Positive changes, in the seasonally adjusted series, were in relation to April.  In the other comparisons (without adjustment), the rates for the volume of sales were of 7.32% vis-à-vis May 2005; 6.00% in the index accumulated in the year; and 5.44% in the index accumulated in the last twelve months.  The nominal revenue grew by 8.24% in relation to May of the previous year; 8.10% in 2006; and 8.73% in the last 12 months.

The change of 0.59% in the volume of sales in May shows the maintenance of the growth of retail business in relation to April.  Nevertheless, in the analysis of the adjusted series, calculated for four among eight activities that form the sector, only Furniture and household appliances had a positive result (5.61%). The other activities had the following changes: Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, -0.40%; Textiles, apparel and footwear, -0.09%; and Fuels and lubricants, -0.62%. The segment Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories, which belongs to extended retail trade, increased by 3.47% vis-à-vis April.

In the comparison May 2006/ May 2005 (without seasonal adjustment), seven among eight retail activities registered increase in the volume of sales, whose rates, by order of importance on the overall result were the following: 7.36% for Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco; 14.97% for Furniture and household appliances; 19.02% for Other articles for personal and domestic use; 9.26% for Textiles, apparel and footwear; 44.55% for Office, computer and communication equipment; 5.50% for Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and perfumery articles; 4.91% for Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles; and -11.92% for Fuels and lubricants.

The growth by 7.36% in the sales of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco is related to the increase of 7.70% in the real average income in relation to May 2005. According to the Monthly Employment Survey (PME), this increase was influenced by the readjustment of the minimum salary, and by better employment conditions.  Since this segment is the one with major participation in the structure of the Monthly Survey of Trade (PMC), it is determinant in the formation of the overall rate of the sector, answering for almost half of retail.  The volume of sales of this segment increased by 7.40% in the first five months of this year compared to the same period of 2005, and by 4.72% in the last 12 months.

The performance of Furniture and household appliances, second major result in May (change of 14.97% in the volume of sales), is a consequence mainly of the maintenance of favorable consumer credit conditions and of loans charged through salary accounts. In the indicator accumulated of the first five months of 2006 compared to the same period of the previous year, the increase was 10.29%; and, in the last 12 months, the increase was 12.57%.

The change of 19.02% for sales of Other articles for personal and domestic use, third greatest result in May, was a consequence probably of the readjustment of the minimum salary, once the activity includes department stores products and other products influenced by income oscillations.  The growth rates were respectively of 15.29% in the year and 15.65% in the last 12 months.

In May, the fourth major result in retail came from the segment Textiles, apparel and footwear (9.26%).  It was the major change rate of this segment since October 2005.  Mothers Day contributed to this result, since it was benefited by the increase of average income of workers and by favorable credit conditions.   In the index accumulated in the five first months of 2006 vis-à-vis the same period of the previous year, the increase was 4.25%; whereas in the last 12 months, the change was 6.60%.

The activity Office, computer and communication equipment (growth by 44.55% in the volume of sales), besides being influenced by the valuation of the Real, was benefited by the improvement in the levels of employment and income.  Regarding the results accumulated in the year and in the last 12 months, the rates were respectively, 43.64% and 55.94%.

The activity Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and perfumery articles, sixth major result in the overall retail rate (5.50%), increased by 4.90% in this year and 6.96% in the last 12 months. Also, in the comparison May 06/ May 05, the activity of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles (change of 4.91% in the volume of sales) had little influence in the final retail result.  In the index accumulated in the year, there was a small increase of 0.49%; and, in the last 12 months, a change of 0.83%.

The activity Fuels and lubricants (-11.92%) had a negative result in the volume of sales, in the comparison May 2006/ May 2005.  The index accumulated in the year and in the last 12 months was respectively of -9.54% and -8.52%.

The table below shows the results for the nominal revenue according to the groups of activity of retail and extended retail.

In the analysis by Federative Units, 26 among 27 states had positive results in the volume of sales in relation to May 2005. The major changes were observed in Roraima (37.55%), Tocantins (27.07%), Amapá (24.57%), Acre (23.69%) and Maranhão (23.15%).  The only decrease occurred in Mato Grosso (-14.12%).  Regarding the participation in the composition of the retail rate, the highlights were in order, São Paulo (5.25%), Minas Gerais (13.61%), Rio de Janeiro (9.10%), Bahia (9.67%) and Paraná (5.62%).

The results with seasonal adjustment for the sales show, in relation to May 2005, the following scenario: 23 states with positive and 4 with negative changes.  The major increments were observed in Tocantins (14.04%), Amapá (8.07%), Sergipe (7.73%) and Acre (4.97%).  There were reductions in Mato Grosso (-2.17%), Bahia (-1.03%), Rio Grande do Sul (-1.00%) and Santa Catarina (-0.06%). 

Regarding the extended retail trade (retail plus the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories and Construction material), the changes in relation to May 2005 were of 8.57% for the volume of sales and 10.17% for the nominal revenue.  In the accumulated indexes of the year and of the last 12 months, the sector increased, respectively, 4.59% and 3.54% for the volume of sales and 6.99% and 7.39% for the revenue.

Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories grew by 12.48% in sales in the monthly comparison.  In the indexes accumulated in the year and in the last 12 months, the changes were respectively, 2.98% and 1.38%.  The segment Construction material had once again a positive monthly result (3.52% compared to May 2005).  However, the rates accumulated of the segment were -1.80% in the year and -4.90% in the last 12 months.

Also in relation to extended retail, the major performance rates in the volume of sales occurred in Maranhão (33.87%), Amapá (30.94%), Acre (29.12%), Piauí (26.25%) and Roraima (23.02%).  Considering the major influences in the overall result of the sector, the highlights were São Paulo (5.33%), Minas Gerais (13.81%), Rio de Janeiro (8.86%), Bahia (13.92%) and Paraná (7.49%).