Retail sales changed -0.3% in September, compared to August, after changing 0.1% in August. In relation to September 2024, the positive result (0.8%) is the sixth one in a row. In the year, retail sales accumulated a growth of 1.5%. The cumulative result in 12 months was 2.1%, the lowest growth rate since January 2024. The data comes from the Monthly Trade Survey (PMC), released today (13), by the IBGE.

In extended retail trade, which includes Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, Construction material and Wholesale of food products, beverages and tobacco, volume of sales changed 0.2% in September compared to August. It grew 1.1% compared to September 2024, after three months of losses. In the year and in 12 months, extended retail accumulated -0.3% and 0.7%, respectively.

The manager of the survey, Cristiano Santos, explains that it is necessary to observe the results of the comparison with the previous month from a medium-term perspective. “Over a six-month horizon, rates were negative on five occasions, which already gives a difference in level to March (when there was the last increase) of -1.1%. Therefore, the scenario that was outlined from April to June (slow drop after the March peak) returns in September, but now counting six months of this movement,” comments him.

The survey shows that there were negative rates from August to September in six out of eight sectors. Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-1.6%), Textiles, Wearing apparel and footwear (-1.2%), Fuels and lubricants (-0.9%), Office, computer and communication equipment and material (-0.9%), Furniture and household appliances (-0.5%) and Hyper, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-0.2%) recorded negative rates.

Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery continue to fall for the second consecutive month and for the fourth one in five months. “This is an activity that has registered a persistent downward trend, mainly due to the migration of part of its product portfolio to other activities, as in the case of physical books. Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear has a decline driven by clothing, fashion accessories, in addition to the sale of footwear, bags, suitcases and travel items,” explains the survey manager.

The positive rates were due to Other articles for personal and domestic use (0.5%) and Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (1.3%)

The two activities within the scope of expanded retail had results with different readings when comparing September with August: Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces with a drop of 0.8% and Construction material with a change of -0.1%

Four out of eight activities had positive results compared to September 2024

In the inter-annual comparison, retail recorded growth for the sixth consecutive month. The highlights are Furniture and household appliances (7.5%), Office, computer and communication equipment and material (5.8%), Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (5.0%) and Other articles for personal and domestic use (2.8%).

On the other hand, four is also the number of activities that registered a drop in the inter-annual indicator: Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-2.1%), Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (-1.6%), Fuels and lubricants (-0.8%) and Hyper, supermarkets, food products, drinks and tobacco (-0.6%).

In expanded retail, Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces fell 1.6%, Construction material changed -0.3% and Wholesale of food products, beverages and tobacco grew 7.7%.

Retail trade has negative rates in 15 out of 27 Federation Units

In the seasonally adjusted series, retail had negative results in 15 out of 27 Federation Units from August to September 2025, with emphasis on Maranhão (-2.2%), Roraima (-2.0%) and the Federal District (-1.7%). On the positive side, there are 11 out of 27 Federation Units, with emphasis on Tocantins (3.2%), Amapá (2.9%) and Bahia (2.4%). Rio Grande do Norte remained stable (0.0%).

Santos explains that the result of trade in Maranhão is closely linked to the growth observed in August (2.6%). As there, the main contribution comes from Hyper and supermarkets, given that there were promotions that took place in August, reducing the purchasing momentum in September. Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear also contributed to the fall, especially footwear.

In the extended retail trade, the change between July and August 2025 had positive results in 14 out of 27 Federation Units, with emphasis on: Tocantins (11.4%), Minas Gerais (3.3%) and Rio Grande do Sul (2.7%). On the negative side, there are 12 out of 27 Federation Units, with highlights being Paraná (-1.8%), São Paulo (-1.6%) and Roraima (-1.5%). Maranhão, for this comparison, registered stability (0.0%).

Compared to September 2024, retail trade showed positive results in 20 out of 27 Federation Units, with highlights being: Amapá (10.0%), Rio Grande do Norte (7.9%) and Bahia (5.9%). On the negative side there are seven rates, with emphasis on Piauí (-5.4%), Roraima (-5.2%) and Rio de Janeiro (-2.6%).

In the extended retail, the change in volume of sales was 1.1%, with positive results in 22 out of 27 Federation Units, with emphasis on: Tocantins (20.7%), Amapá (10.8%) and Mato Grosso (8.5%). On the positive side, there are five regional results, with highlights being São Paulo (-3.6%), Piauí (-2.7%) and Pernambuco (-2.3%).

About the survey

The PMC produces indicators to monitor the short-term behavior of retail trade in Brazil, investigating the gross revenue of formal enterprises with 20 or more employed persons and whose major activity is retail trade.

Having started in 1995, the PMC brings monthly results of changes in sales volume and nominal revenue for retail trade and extended retail trade (cars and construction material) for Brazil and Federation Units. Results can be accessed on Sidra. The next release of the PMC, with the results for October 2025, will be on December 11.