In November, retail trade in the country recorded increase of 1.1% in terms of volume of sales versus the figure in the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series...

In November, retail trade in the country recorded increase of 1.1% in terms of volume of sales versus the figure in the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series.  Nominal revenue, on the other hand, increased 1.2%.  With such figures, the sector has recorded positive rates in volume of sales for seven months and in nominal revenue for eleven months.  Other indexes, without seasonal adjustment, recorded increase in volume of sales by 9.9% (over November 2009); 11.0% accumulated in 2010 and 10.8% in the last 12 months.  Considering the same indicators, nominal revenue increased by 14.8%, 14.4% and 14.1%, respectively.

Eight of the activities recorded positive changes 

In the series with seasonal adjustment, eight of the 10 activities recorded positive changes in terms of volume of sales:  Office, computer and communication material and equipment (10.5%); Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles (6.6%); Furniture and household appliances (2.4%); Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and toiletries (0.9%); Construction material (0.8%); Other articles of personal and domestic use (0.2%); Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces  (0.2%); and Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.1%). On the other hand, negative changes were observed in Textiles, apparel and footwear (-3.6%) and Fuels  and lubricants  (-0.3%).

All the activities recorded increase when compared to those in November 2009:  Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces (30.4%); Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles (23.2%);  Furniture and household appliances (20,5%); Office, computer and communication material and equipment (20.4%); Construction material (15.8%); Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and toiletries(13.4%); Other articles of personal and domestic use (11.0%); Textiles, apparel and footwear (9.2%); Fuels and lubricants (6.3%); and Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (5.6%).

The subsector that contributed most significantly to the overall retail trade rate was Furniture and household appliances and to the second major contribution to the extended retail trade rate.  In terms of accumulated indexes, there were hikes of 18.3% from January to November and of 17.7% in 12 months.  This performance has resulted from the recovery of credit and the continued expansion of employment and income, besides the volume of sales in most of 2009 (creating a “base-effect”) as a consequence of the financial crisis of 2008.

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with a 5.6% increase over November 2009, accounted for 27% and 10% of the rate for retail trade and extended retail trade, respectively.  The recent deceleration of increase can be seen as a consequence of the rise of food prices (6.7% between September and November, according to IPCA).  In accumulated terms, the changes were 9.3% in the first 11 months of the year and the last 12 months.  Its performance reflects the positive behavior of payroll (increase of 9.6% over November 2009, according to PME, with reference to the real payroll usually earned by the employed population).

Other articles of personal and domestic use, which encompasses segments such as department stores, glasses shops, jewelry shops, sporting goods, toys, etc, accounted for the third main contribution to the retail trade rate and for the fourth most significant one to extended retail.   The hikes of 8.9% relative to the index accumulated in 2010 and of 8.75% to the one accumulated in 12 months, even being below the overall index, reflect the evolution of payroll and credit.

Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and and toiletries, with increase of 13.4% over November 2009, represented the fourth and fifth major impacts on the formation of retail and extended retail results, respectively.  With hikes of 11.6% in the indexes accumulated in 2001 and in the last 12 months, the subsector has had results above average for the third consecutive year.  The increase of payroll, the bigger supply of generic medicines and the importance of the latter have contributed to the performance of trade.

Textiles, apparel and footwear accounted for the fifth major contribution to the overall retail trade rate.  Considering accumulated indexes, the 10.8% of increase in the first eleven months of 2010 and of 10.0% accumulated in the 12 months show the recovery of Sales after a year of negative results (decrease of 2.1% between 2008 and 2009). This result has been affected by the increase of payroll and the recovery of credit.

Fuels and lubricants accounted for the sixth biggest contribution to the overall rate.  There was increase by 6.6% and 6.5% in 2010, and in the last 12 months, respectively.  In spite of being below the overall index, the results surpass the 0.8% obtained by this activity in 2009. That can be seen not only as a result of the recovery of production activity in 2010, but also of the rise of revenue generated by the bigger consumption of gasoline, mainly versus alcohol.

Office, computer and communication material and equipment accounted for the seventh biggest contribution to the formation of the overall retail trade rate and for the eighth major contribution to extended retail.  This activity accumulated hikes of 23.8% in the eleven months of 2010 and of 21.3% in the last 12 months.  Such performances have resulted from the increase of income; the recovery of credit; the fall of prices of items belonging to this activity, mainly personal computers (-9.3% in the last 12 months, according to IPCA); and the increase of cell phone sales.

Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles recorded the lowest contribution to the overall retail trade rate.  Considering the indexes accumulated in 2010 and in the last 12 months, there were hikes of 10.2% and 10.1%, respectively.  Such performances result from the better population's purchasing power, as well as from the existing diversity of products supplied, being a highlight the growing participation of computer accessories.  

Extended retail trade accumulated increase of 11.9% in 2010

In terms of extended retail trade, the seasonally adjusted increases over October were 1.4% for volume of sales and 1.5% for nominal revenue.  In other comparisons, volume of sales increased 17.0% when compared to the figure in November 2009; 11.9% versus the index accumulated in 2010 and 12.1% in the index accumulated in 12 months.  Considering the same indicators, nominal revenue increased 19.8%, 14.7% and 14.7%, respectively.

Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces – which belongs to extended retail trade, only - has accounted for 59% of the overall result in this activity.  In terms of the indexes accumulated in the first 11 months of 2010 and on the last 12 months, the subsector records increases above the average (respectively, 13.0% and 14.0%).  Such figures result from the favorable conditions of credit.

Construction material increased again, after recording a negative result in 2009 (-6.6%):   15.6% accumulated in 2010 and 15.0% accumulated in the last 12 months.  This performance was mainly affected by the reduction of tax burden on a group of products and the expansion of housing credit.

Positive results in all Federation Units in comparison with November 2009 figures

All the 27 Federation Units recorded positive results compared to those in November 2009, being the main highlights Tocantins (69.8%), Rondônia (28.1%), Paraíba (22.3%), Maranhão (19.4%) and Ceará (17.3%). As for participation in the retail trade rate, the main highlights were São Paulo (8.3%), Rio de Janeiro (9.8%), Minas Gerais (12.4%), Rio Grande do Sul (13.9%) and Bahia (12.6%).

In relation to extended retail trade, the most significant performance in volume of sales occurred in Tocantins (51.8%), Rondônia (31.3%), Mato Grosso (30.3%), Acre (26.1%), Paraíba (26.0%) and Amapá (24.9%).

In the overall result of the sector, the highlights were São Paulo (15.4%), Minas Gerais (17.9%), Rio de Janeiro (14.4%), Rio Grande do Sul (18.8%) and Paraná (19.6%).

Compared to results in October (seasonally adjusted), positive changes occurred in 17 of the 27 Federation Units, being some highlights Alagoas (3.7%), Amapá (3.1%), Ceará (1.9%), Bahia (1.8%) and Minas Gerais (1.8%). n the other hand, the main decreases occurred in Roraima (-9.3%), Federal District (-3.0%), Rio Grande do Norte (-2.1%) and Maranhão (-2.0%).