The Monthly Survey of Trade by IBGE detected changes of -0.38% in the volume of sales and of -0.32% in the nominal revenue from retail sales in the country, in relation to July 2005, considering the seasonally adjusted series.

In August 2005, retail trade presented slightly negative rates: -0.38% for the volume of sales and –0.32% for the nominal revenue, considering the seasonally adjusted month/month comparison. In the remaining comparisons, without seasonal adjustment, the volume of sales increased by 6.47% over August 2004, accumulating 4.86% in the year and 6.30% in the last 12 months. Nominal revenue, on the other hand, increased by 9.98%, over the same month in 2004, accumulating 11.27% in the year and 12.50% in the last twelve months (Tables 1 and 2).

The fall of 0.38% of the volume of sales was the first one in the last six months, considering the seasonally adjusted series. The volume of sales, calculated for four of the eight activities which form retail trade, was negative for Textiles, Apparel and Footwear (-2.37%). As shown in Table 1, the results for the remaining activities were: Fuels and lubricants (1.42%); Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.53%) and Furniture and household appliances (0.03%).

In relation to August 2004, the volume of sales increased in seven of eight retail activities: Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (4.07%); Furniture and household appliances (16.61%); Pharmaceutical, medical , orthopedic and perfumery articles (11.78%); Office, computer and communication equipment (63.76%); Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles (6.45%) Other articles of personal and domestic use (16.31%). The only fall was Fuels and lubricants (-5.96%).

The major impact on the monthly rate of volume of sales in August was, once more, Furniture and household appliances. This activity presented results above average, benefited by the of favorable conditions of direct consumer credit transactions, and by the personal loans paid through salary accounts. Its accumulated changes, although reduced in the last few months, reached, in August, 18.86% in the year and 19.84% in the last twelve months.

With a rise of 4.07%, in relation to August 2004, the activity Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco was the second highest contribution to the development of retail trade. This result was influenced by the stability of the level of occupation and by the increase of the real average income of workers by the third consecutive month, according to the Monthly Employment Survey of IBGE. The rates accumulated in the year and in the last twelve months were 3.44% and 5.59%, respectively

The increase of volume of sales of Other articles of personal and domestic use (16.31%) was the third biggest impact on retail trade in August. This activity is also influenced by credit transactions, once it covers department stores, glasses shops sporting goods stores, toys, etc. Its volume of sales accumulated in the year (13.76%) surpassed the average of retail trade.

Still concerning August 2004, the fourth biggest impact on retail trade was the activity Textiles, apparel and footwear (10.51%), affected by the end-o-season sales. The results accumulated in the year and in the last 12 months were, respectively, 3.77% and 3.25%.

The activity Office, computer and communication equipment had a hike of 63.76% in relation to August 2004 and accumulated 43.60% in the year. These results are explained by the raise of the value of the Brazilian currency (Real) in relation to the dollar, which has made computer-related products relatively cheaper, as shown in the IBGE’s Extended Consumer Price Index. The index has accumulated a decrease of 5.20% in the year (Jan-Aug) for the item Personal Computer.

The only fall in terms of volume of sales, in August 2004, was Fuel and lubricants (-5.96%), with its eighth consecutive fall. The rise of fuels prices to levels extremely above average (8.10% in 12 months, according to IPCA), has caused the saving of these products. The segment accumulates falls in the year (-6.97%) and in 12 months (-3.94%)

Still in relation to August 204, there was increase of the volume of sales in twenty-four of the twenty-seven Federative Units, especially in Tocantins (49.40%); Paraíba (38.59%); Piauí (34.92%); Maranhão (30.47%); Sergipe (29.66%) and Amazonas (26.23%). The most significant contributions to retail trade rates came from São Paulo (4.10%), Rio de Janeiro (4.46%), Bahia (11.45%), Minas Gerais (5.04%); Pernambuco (16.80%) and Ceará (23.44%).

Extended retail trade increases by 5.47% in relation to August 2004

For Extended Retail Trade (retail trade and the activities Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories and Construction Material), there were rises of 5.47% in volume of sales and of 10.60% in the nominal revenue of sales over August 2004. In the year, the segment accumulated 3.35% (volume) and 11.35% (revenue).

The volume of sales of the activity Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories increased by 5.42% over August 2004, after falling in July (-4.71%) . The index accumulated in the year and in the last twelve months were 2.3% and 6.54%, respectively. The segment of Construction Material fell (-2.91%) in relation to August 2004 and in to the rate accumulated in the year (-5.54%).

Still in relation to extended retail trade, the highest rates of volume of sales occurred in Alagoas (50.31%); Tocantins (40.04%); Piauí (39.26%); Acre (36.315%); Paraíba (30.54%) and Pará (29.34%). The highest contributions to the overall rate came from São Paulo (3.12%); Pernambuco (20.36%); Bahia (12.00%) Rio de Janeiro (3.73%) and Federal District with 15.83%.

In the series with seasonal adjustment, there was increase of the volume of sales in twenty-two Federative Units, especially in Amazonas (4.99%); Alagoas (4.00%), Amapá (3.59%) and Paraíba (3.55%). The biggest falls were registered in Paraná (-3.66%), in Santa Catarina (-3.18%) and in Rio Grande do Sul (-1.92%).