From April to May, the change in retail trade in the country was 0.40% for the volume of sales and 2.19% for nominal revenue from trade, considering seasonally adjusted data (graphs 1 and 2). In the remaining comparisons (series without seasonal adjustment), the rates for volume of sales were 2.67% over May 2004; 4.51% accumulated in the year and 7.52% accumulated in the last twelve months. The nominal revenue from sales registered rates of 10.27% over the same month of the previous year; of 11.96% accumulated from January to May and 13.67% accumulated in the last 12 months (tables 1 and 2).

Regarding extended retail trade, which includes the eight activities of retail trade and also Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories and Construction Material, the increase in the comparison May 2004/ May 2005 was 1.76% for volume of sales and 10.58% for nominal revenue from sales. These results were a little lower than those for retail trade in the same comparison. The segment presented change rates of 3.55% for volume of sales and 12.81% for nominal revenue from sales, accumulated in the first six months of 2005 over the same period in 2004.

Twenty-five of the 27 Federative Units presented positive monthly results for volume of retail trade sales, with the main changes occurring in Tocantins, with 35.32%; Paraíba (26.63%); Sergipe (25.38%); Acre (24.05%) and Rio Grande do Norte (18.79%). Regarding the influence on the formation of the retail trade rate, the main highlights were Minas Gerais (4.21%), Pernambuco (13.39%); Goiás (16.84%); Federal District (11.04%) and Ceará (16.13%).

By Federative Unit, the highest rates of volume of retail trade sales (still in the monthly comparison), occurred in Acre (30.68%); Tocantins (30.65%); Rondônia (25.55%); Pará (25.06%) and in Sergipe (23.55%). In terms of impact on the overall result of the sector, the major contributions were, basically, the same states which formed retail trade rate, being Pernambuco (15.89%); Goiás (15.20%); e Ceará (16.17%) the main highlights.

In the seasonally adjusted month/previous month comparison, calculated for four of the eight activities which form retail trade, there were positive results for volume of sales of Furniture and Household Appliances (2.08%) and of Fuels and Lubricants (0.87%). The falls occurred in Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-0.39%) and in Textiles, apparel and footwear (-13.02%), especially in the area Hypermarkets and supermarkets (-0.45%)

In relation to May 2004, five of the eight retail activities increased their volume of sales, with rates of 1.23% for Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco; of 18.30% for Furniture and Household Appliances; of 5.09% for Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and perfumery articles; of 51.19% for Office, computer and communication equipment and 9.10% for Other articles of personal and domestic use. The negative changes occurred in Fuels and Lubricants, with –7.26%; Textiles, apparel and footwear, -6.09% and for Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles (-0.16%)

In the formation of the monthly rate of May for volume of sales of retail trade, the major positive impact is still that of Furniture and Household Appliances. Benefited by the favorable conditions of direct consumer credit transactions, and by personal loans paid through salary accounts, this segment has reached performance rates above average, 19.31% accumulated in the first five months of the year and 22.39% in the last 12 months.

The activity Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, whose volume of sales over May 2004 (1.23%) was basically affected by the raise of the minimum salary in May (15.4%) and by the increase of 3.8% of the level of employment in relation to the same month of the previous year. These factors were pointed out by the Monthly Employment Survey – PME in the total of six areas surveyed. Considering the indices accumulated in the year and in the last twelve months, the change rates were 3.34% and 6.58%, respectively.

The monthly rate of growth of volume of sales of Other articles of personal and domestic use (9.10%), were also significant to explain the positive performance of retail trade in May. To explain this result becomes difficult due to the variety of areas forming the segment of retail trade (department stores, glasses shops, toys, etc). The change in volume accumulated in the first five months of the year was 13.07%.

Regarding the negative results for volume of sales in the comparison May05/May 04, the biggest impact on the rate of retail trade was that of Fuels and lubricants (-7.26%), the fifth consecutive negative result. This behavior can be seen as a consequence of the rise of fuel prices to levels extremely above average, a fact which has caused the saving of these products. In the first five months of 2005, the subsector registered rates of –6.68% over the same period of 2004, and of –1.00% accumulated in 12 months.

Concerning Textiles, apparel and footwear, with change of –6.09%, the results were influenced by the early start of Mother |Day’s sales, in April (increase of 14.82%), stimulated by the end-of-month sales. In the year, the accumulated change was 2.13%, whereas in the last 12 months it was 3.38%. 

With reference to the two activities which form Extended Retail Trade and are not included in the results of Retail Trade, the highlight is Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories, with changes in the volume of sales of 1.83% over May 2004; 3.54% accumulated in the year and 12.90% accumulated in the last 12 months. The segment of Construction Material presented an opposite trend, with falls by –6.96% in the comparison May 05/ May 04, and 4.89% accumulated from January to May 2005 over the same period last year.