The retail trade started 2012 recording a rise of 2.6% for the volume of sales and of 3.6% for the nominal revenue, both rates in relation to the previous month (seasonally adjusted). In the other comparisons, obtained from the unadjusted original series, the national retail trade recorded, as to the volume of sales, increases of 7.3% against January of the previous year and of 6.6% in the index accumulated in the last 12 months. For the same indicators, the nominal revenue of sales recorded change rates of 12.1% and 11.4%, respectively. The complete publication of the survey can be accessed at www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/comercio/pmc/.

Among the activities, seven present positive changes

In January of 2012, seven of the ten surveyed activities had positive results for the seasonally adjusted volume of sales. In decreasing order, the rates were: hiper-, super-markets, food, beverages and tobacco (7.4%); fabric, apparel and footwear (5.2%); other articles of personal and household use (3.9%); construction material (3.7%); books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (2.0%); pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (1.2%); furniture and domestic appliances (0.4%); fuels and lubricants (-0.3%); office , computer and communication material and equipment (-2.3%) and vehicles and motorcycles, parts and accessories (-2.9%). 

Compared with January of 2012 and the same month of the last year (seasonally adjusted series), only fuels and lubricants registered a negative result (-0.7%).  The other results were: 7.6% for hiper-, super-markets, food, beverages and tobacco; 11.9% for furniture and domestic appliances;  15.1% for other articles of personal and household use; 8.6% for pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles; 32.7% for office, computer and communication equipment and material; 3.1% for fabric, apparel and footwear and 10,3% for books, newspapers, magazines and stationery.   

Hiper-, super-markets, food, beverages and tobacco started the year with a change of 7.6% in the volume of sales in January compared with the same month a year ago. The activity exerted the main impact on the retail trade rate (50%). This fact is attributable to the increase in the population’s purchasing power, mainly driven by the rise in the volume of employed persons’ real income, job stability and increase in demand. The latter was due to the behavior of food prices, below the average in the last 12 months.  In the last 12 months, the activity grew 7.6%. 

Furniture and house appliances, with an increase of 11.9% in the volume of sales in relation to January of last year, was the second main contributor to the overall retail rate (21%). In the rate accumulated in the last 12 months, the activity recorded a growth of 15.9%. The monthly result is attributable to credit, employment and price stability. Prices were stable mainly for house appliances (-5.3%, in the last 12 months, for electronic appliances, according to IPCA).

Other articles of personal and household use, with the third highest impact on the retail trade (14%), recorded a change of 15.1% in the volume of sales in relation to January of 2011. The activity included department stores, optical stores, jewelry stores, sports stores, toy stores etc. It was also influenced by the positive evolution of the volume of salaries and credit.  The rate accumulated in the last 12 months was of 4.8%. 

Fuels and lubricants, with a -0.7% change in the volume of sales in relation to January 2011, was responsible for the lowest impact on the overall rate.  The rate accumulated in the last 12 months was of 1.0%. There was a retraction in demand probably due to the rise of 6.1% in prices and no conditions of substitution.   

Extended retail trend changes 1.4% in January

The extended retail trade changed 1.4% in the volume of sales and 1.7% in the nominal revenue, both seasonally adjusted (compared with December 2011). In relation to the same month of the previous year, there was a growth of 7.7% for the volume of sales and of 10.4% for the nominal revenue.  In the indicator accumulated in the last 12 months, the sector presented change rates of 6.4% and 9.1% for the volume of sales and nominal revenue, respectively.

Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories rose by 6.9% compared with January 2011. This result shows acceleration in the sector, as the rates of November and December were -2.7% and -0.7%, respectively.  Compared with December, the results were -2.9% for the volume of sales and -2.1% for the nominal revenue.  In the index accumulated in the last twelve months, the change was of 5.5% for the volume of sales. As for Construction Material, changes for the volume of sales were 13.7% in relation to January of 2011 and 9.0% in the indicator accumulated in the last 12 months. The activity has positive results since April of 2011.

Results were positive in 25 states compared with January of 2011

Twenty-five of the twenty-seven Federation Units presented positive results in the volume of sales, when compared with January 2012 and the same month a year ago.  The negative changes were recorded by Amazonas (-0.2%) and Rio Grande do Norte (-1.2%).   The positive highlights were Roraima (24.5%); Tocantins (22.8%); Mato Grosso do Sul(18.5%); Paraná (17.1%) and Amapá (15.3%). Concerning the contribution to the rate of the retail trade, the highlights were São Paulo (7.8%); Paraná (17.1%); Rio Grande do Sul (10.2%); Santa Catarina (12.5%); Minas Gerais (4.6%) and Bahia (7.6%).

Concerning the volume of sales of the extended rate, only Amazonas (-1.5%) showed a negative result. Other highlights were Paraná (17.0%); Roraima (14.2%); Maranhão (14.7%); Piauí (11.8%) and Goiás (11.1%) However, in terms of impact on the overall result of the sector, the highlights were São Paulo (9.4%); Paraná (17.0%); Rio Grande do Sul(9.6%); Santa Catarina (7.1%); Bahia (7.9%) and Goiás (11.1%). 

Considering the Federation Units and the volume of sales, the seasonally adjusted results were negative in five states: Minas Gerais (-0.4%); Amazonas (-0.6%); Rio Grande do Norte (-0.7%); Mato Grosso (-1.6%) and Tocantins (-5.4%). The highest increases occurred in Roraima (17.8%); Paraná (9.4%); Amapá (8.6%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (6.6%).