In the seasonally-adjusted series, the retail trade recorded a change of –0.4% for volume of sales and of 0.3% for nominal revenue in April 2015, both rates in relation to the previous month. Volume of sales registered the third consecutive month of negative figures. Nominal revenue reversed the negative picture of the previous month. Concerning the quarterly moving average index, volume of sales changed -0.6%, whereas nominal revenue increased 0.1%. In the seasonally-unadjusted series, the retail posted a decrease of -3.5% in terms of volume of sales over April a year ago and registered a cumulative change of -1.5% in the year and of 0.2% in the last 12 months. For the same indicators, nominal revenue of sales recorded changes of 2.5%, 4.7% and 6.4%, respectively.

The extended retail - which also includes the activities of vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, and of construction material - continued to record a negative variation for volume of sales (-0.3%) over the previous month in the seasonally-adjusted series. Nominal revenue changed 0.3%, returning to the positive side after two months of negative figures. In relation to the same month a year ago, volume of sales changed -8.5% and nominal revenue, -2.7%. Concerning the cumulative rates, the figures were -6.1% in the year and -4.1% in the last 12 months, for volume of sales, and -0.3% and 1.6% for nominal revenue, respectively.

The complete publication of the survey can be accessed at: www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/comercio/pmc/.

Seven of ten activities surveyed change negatively

In the seasonally-adjusted series, seven out of the ten activities surveyed registered negative figures for volume of sales in the fourth month of the year in relation to the previous month. The negative rates were: fuels and lubricants (-0.1%); books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-0.2%); construction material (-1.2%); furniture and household appliances (-3.1%); fabric, apparel and footwear (-3.8%); other personal and household articles (-5.1%); and office, computer and communication material and equipment (-12,2%). The activities that registered positive figures were vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces (4.4%); hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (1.9%); and pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (0.3%).

In the seasonally-unadjusted series, six out of the eight activities of the retail trade recorded negative changes in the April 2015/April 2014 ratio for volume of sales. The figures were as follows, in order of negative contribution to the overall rate: furniture and household appliances (-16.0%); hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-2.3%); fabric, apparel and footwear (-7.5%); fuels and lubricants (-2.1%); other personal and household articles (-0.6%); and books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-9.1%). The activities that exerted positive impact on the composition of the retail figure were pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (6.2%); and office, computer and communication material and equipment (2.7%).

Having changed -16.0% in volume of sales over April last year, the activity of furniture and household appliances registered the highest negative impact on the rate. The cumulative index in the year and in the last 12 months were -8.9% and -3.9%, respectively. Such behavior could be attributed to the gradual reduction of incentives - reduction of the Tax on Manufactured Products, IPI - directed to white goods, in addition to the reduced wage bill (-3.8% over April 2014, according to PME) and to the lower pace of credit.

Having changed -2.3% in volume of sales in April 2015 over the same month a year before, the segment of hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco was the second main negative contribution to the overall rate. In terms of cumulative results, this activity changed -1.6% in the year and -0.6% in the last 12 months.  Although food at home prices rose below the overall average, such performance was influenced by the reduced purchasing power of the population.

Having changed -7.5% over the same month in the previous year, and recording a cumulative rate of -4.2% in the year and of -1.9% in the last 12 months, fabric, apparel and footwear were responsible for the third highest negative contribution to the overall index of the retail. Even positioning below the overall index of inflation - changes of 3.6% and 8.2%, respectively, in the cumulative rate in the last 12 months up to April, according to the IPCA -, wearing apparel has been underperforming in relation to the overall average of the retail trade.

The segment of fuels and lubricants posted a rate of -2.1% in volume of sales over April 2014 and accounted for the fourth highest negative contribution to the overall rate of the retail. The cumulative growth rate in the year (-2.1%) and in the last 12 months (-0.1%) reflected the rise of fuel prices above the average: 8.5% in 12 months against 8.2% of the overall index, according to the IPCA.

Providing the highest positive contribution, pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, and toiletries registered the rate of 6.2% in the April 2015/April 2014 ratio, as well as cumulative rates in the year and in the last 12 months of 5.9% and 7.5%, respectively. The favorable performance of this sector could be especially attributed to the essential nature of its products and to the variation of medicine prices below the overall index.

Having risen 2.7% over April 2014, the volume of sales of office, computer and communication material and equipment posted the second highest positive contribution. The cumulative figures - variation of 13.5% in the year and of 2.9% in the last 12 months - could be explained by the behavior of computer prices, one of the main items of this activity.

Extended retail falls 8.5% compared with April 2014

The extended retail trade - comprising retail plus the activities of vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, and construction material - changed -8.5% in volume of sales in the March 2015/March 2014 ratio. It also recorded -6.1% in the cumulative rate in the year and -4.1% in 12 months. This behavior was due to the negative performance of vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, whose inter-annual result was -19.5%, posting a cumulative rate of -16.0% in the year and of -12.6% in 12 months. Among other factors, the reduced sales in this segment was due to the gradual reduction of incentives, like the reduction of the IPI, to the reduced pace of credit and to the restrictive budget of families, as a result of the deceleration of the real wage bill. 

The volume of sales of construction material changed -5.0% over April 2014. As to the cumulative figures, the rates were -4.5% in the year and -2.6% in 12 months, reflecting the negative expectations about the macroeconomic picture.

Retail figures negative in 22 of 27 Federation Units

In the seasonally-unadjusted series, 22 out of the 27 Federation Units registered negative changes in volume of sales when comparing April 2015 with the same month in the previous year, highlighted by Goiás (-11.2%); Paraíba (-11.0%); Mato Grosso (-10.5%) and Amapá (-9.2%). As to the highest negative contributions to the retail rate, the changes were: São Paulo (-3.4%); Rio de Janeiro (-3.9%); and Minas Gerais (-2.8%).

In the seasonally-adjusted series, volume of sales in the comparison between April 2015 and the previous month was negative in 20 states, highlighted by: Roraima (-2.6%); Amapá (-2.5%); Pará (-1.9%); and Bahia (-1.8%). The highest positive rates were recorded in Amazonas (3.0%); and Rio Grande do Sul (1.0%). 

Concerning the extended retail, 26 states posted negative figures in terms of volume of sales when compared with the same period a year ago, highlighted by: Espírito Santo (-22.3%); Goiás (-15.8%); Mato Grosso (-15.7%); and Paraíba (-15.4%). As to the highest negative contributions, the changes were: São Paulo (-6.3%); Rio de Janeiro (-7.8%); Rio Grande do Sul (-11.2%); and Santa Catarina (-12.7%).