In March, the services sector recorded decrease of 2.3% in the volume of sales over the previous month (seasonally-adjusted series), after having recorded a growth of 0.4% in February (reviewed) and 0.0% in January (reviewed). This is the highest decrease of the series initiated in 2012, breaking a four-month sequence of non-negative results. In the non-adjusted series, in the comparison with March 2016, the sector posted decrease of 5.0%, following the downward trend of 5.3% in February (reviewed) and 3.5% in January. With such results, the cumulative rate in the year stood at -4.6% and, in 12 months, at -5.0%.

By activities, in relation to February 2017 (adjusted series), all the segments presented drops, namely: services rendered to families (-2.1%); other services (-1.2%); transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities (-1.1%); professional, administrative and complementary services (-0.8%) and information and communication services (-0.4%). The special aggregate of Tourism activities presented growth of 0.9%, in comparison with the previous month.

The nominal revenue in March recorded change of -1.0% in relation to February (adjusted series) and, in the comparison with the same month a year ago (not seasonally-adjusted), it stood at 1.0%. The cumulative rate in the year stood at 1.1% and, in 12 months, at 0.1%. The complete publication of the Monthly Survey of Services (PMS) released by the IBGE can be accessed here.

Indicators of Volume of Services, by Groups of Activities
Brazil - March 2017

Source: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Serviços e Comércio.

In terms of the global rate of volume, in comparison with March 2016, the contributions of the segments were: Professional, administrative and complementary services (-2.4 pp); Other services (-1.1 pp);Transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities (-0.8 pp); Information and communication services (-0.5 pp) and services rendered to families (-0.2 pp). 

Q1 2017: services sector held stable over the same quarter a year ago (0.0%)

In the 1st quarter of 2017, in the seasonally-adjusted series, the services sector held steady (0.0%) in relation to the 4th quarter 2016, which, on its turn, recorded a 2.7% drop in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2016. Thus, the results of this quarter did not regain growth.

By activities, the segments of information and communication services (2.8%) and transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities were the ones that recorded the highest growth (1.6%), followed by services rendered to families (0.8%). Professional, administrative and complementary servicesregistered a drop of 7.3% and Other services, of - 4.8%. Tourism activities decreased 4.3% in the quarter.

In the non-adjusted series, the sector shrank 4.6%, in the comparison with the 1st quarter of 2016, returning to the same level pf the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2016 (-4.7% and -4.4%, respectively). All the segments registered drops, the greatest one being recorded in professional, administrative and complementary services (-9.4%) and the lowest in information and communication services (-0.4%).

Results by regions: Roraima, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Federal District with highest decreases over February

In relation to regional results of the services sectors in March over February (seasonally-adjusted), the highest positive changes of volume were registered in Tocantins (24.9%), Maranhão (9.9%) and Alagoas (4.1%). The greatest negative changes were in Roraima (-4.2%), Rio Grande do Sul (-4.0%) and Paraná and Federal District (both with -3.4%).     

In the seasonally adjusted series, in the comparison with the same month a year ago, the biggest positive changes were recorded in Rio Grande do Norte (6.5%), Mato Grosso (5.3%) and Paraná (4.9%). The greatest negative changes were in Roraima (-18.7%), Amapá (-16.5%) and the Federal District (-13.2%).

Tourism Activities: São Paulo grows 5.2% between February and March

For the index of tourism activities, among the selected Federation Units, in comparison with February, the positive changes were: São Paulo (5.2%), Paraná (3.6%), Espírito Santo (3.2%), Minas Gerais (3.0%), Pernambuco and Ceará (both with 1.3%) and Bahia (0.8%). The negative changes were seen in the Federal District (-11.0%), Goiás (-6.3%), Santa Catarina (-2.3%), Rio Grande do Sul (-1.7%) and Rio de Janeiro(-1.1%).

In the comparison with the same month a year ago (non-adjusted), the positive changes were the following: Minas Gerais (9.1%), Santa Catarina (8.5%), Goiás (7.7%), Bahia (4.6%), Pernambuco (3.0%), Paraná and Ceará (both with 2.0%). The negative changes were the following: Rio de Janeiro (-15.4%), Federal District (-14.7%), Rio Grande do Sul (-12.1%), Espírito Santo (-9.0%) and São Paulo (-5.9%).