In September 2017, the national retail trade had an increase of 0.5 over the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series, offsetting the decrease of 0.4% last August, when it interrupted four consecutive months of expansion, a period in which the sales accumulated a gain of 2.3%. The nominal revenue grew 1.1%. As a result, the quarterly moving average for the volume of sales in the retail was stable (0.1%) in the quarter ended in September 2017.

In the non-adjusted series, in the comparison with the same month a year ago, the retail trade overall had a growth of 6.4% in September 2017, accelerating the pace in relation to August (3.6%). Thus, the retail indexes were positive both for the end of Q3 2017 (4.3%) and for the cumulative period from January to September (1.3%), both comparisons against the same period a year ago. Having declined 0.6% in September 2017, the annualized rate - cumulative indicator in the last 12 months - proceeded the recovery trend started in October 2016 (-6.8%). In this comparison, the revenue grew 4.5%.

In the extended retail trade, which includes the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, the sales registered a change of 1.0% in relation to August 2017, keeping the growth trend for the fourth month in a row, a period when it accumulated a gain of 4.0% in the seasonally adjusted series. In the comparison with September 2016, the extended retail recorded an advance of 9.3%, the fifth positive rate in a row in this comparison. Concerning the cumulative rates, the figures were: 2.7% in the cumulative index in the year and -0.1% in the last 12 months. Click here to have access to the complete publication.

Five of the eight activities surveyed had growth

Over August 2017, in the seasonally adjusted series, the volume of sales in the retail trade registered a 0.5% change, with prevalence of positive results that reach five of the eight activities surveyed. Among those, the advance of 1.0% in the sales of the sector of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, followed by pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles (4.3%) and of other articles of personal and domestic use (2.9%) exerted the main influences on the global result of the retail in the month of September 2017. Also with positive changes are   fabric, apparel and footwear (0.2%) and office, computer and communication equipment and material (0.9%). On the other hand, with decrease in sales in comparison with August 2017 are fuels and lubricants (-0.7%) and books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-3.4%) both registering the third decrease in a row. In the same comparison, the sales of furniture and household appliances, decreasing 0.7%, interrupted a sequence of four positive rates in a row, a period in which the segment accumulated a gain of 6.1%. Considering the extended retail trade the sales advanced 1.0% in relation to August in the seasonally adjusted series, also influenced by the 0.5% advance in construction material, whereas the sales of vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces recorded a decrease of 0.4% after having grown 3.0% in the previous month. 

In the comparison with September 2016, the volume of the retail registering 6.4% reached the highest rate since April 2014 (6.7%). Five of the eight activities registering positive changes in the sales, with  a highlight, by order of contribution, to  Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco  (6.0%) and furniture and domestic appliances (16.6%),  other articles of personal and domestic use (10.8%), fabric, apparel and footwear (11.7%),  pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles (8.3%). With a negative pressure are Fuels and lubricants (-4.1%), books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-6.4%) and office, computer and communication equipment and material (-3.0%).

The sector of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with an advance of 6.0% against September 2016, exerted the greatest positive impact in the formation o the global rate of the retail (Table 3) and recorded the highest rate since April 2014.  The performance of this activity was favored by factors such as the growth of the usual real wage bill and the deflation in food prices. There was also an impact from the income capture of the enterprises that increased the number of outlets of the activity. As a result, the cumulative index of the year (0.4%) recorded the first positive rate, which had not been seen since June 2015 (0.2%). The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months had a decrease of 0.7%.

The segment of Furniture and domestic appliances, with a 16.6% growth in the volume of sales in relation to September last year, was responsible for the second biggest impact in the formation of the overall rate if the retail trade of September 2017. In terms of cumulative indexes, the changes were of 8.8% from January to September and of 3.1% in the last 12 months. The positive behavior of this sector has been stemming from factors such as the reduction of the interest rate in the credit of natural persons, in addition to the positive impact of the improvement in the labor market.

The activity of Other articles of personal and domestic use, which encompasses department, optical, jewelry, sport articles, toy stores, etc., was the third main contributor to the retail rate, with an increase of 10.8% in the volume of sales in relation to September 2016. As to the cumulative indicators, the changes were of 1.8% in the year, and of -0.2% in the last 12 months.

The sector of Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear, with a change of -11.7% in relation to the same month a year ago, was the fourth greatest contribution to the composition of the general rate of retail. The results for the cumulative indicators were: 7,8% in the year and 1,8% in the last 12 months. With the already mentioned real wage bill and the prices of apparel below the general average of prices, the performance of the activity remains above the general average of the retail - besides there is the influence of the low basis of comparison.

The activity of Pharmaceutical, medical and orthopedic goods and toiletries, with an increase of 8.3%, was the third biggest contribution to the global retail rate. In the cumulative indicators of the first nine months of the year and of the last 12 months, the changes reached rates of 1.0% and -0.6%, respectively.

Fuels and lubricants, down 4.1% in the volume of sales in relation to September 2016, were the greatest negative contribution to the overall retail result. In cumulative terms, the activity rates were of -3.2% for the first nine months of the year and of -4.4% for the last 12 months.   The price rise of fuels above the average change of prices is a relevant factor that has been influencing negatively the performance of the sector.

The segment of Office, computer and communication material and equipment changed 3.0% over the same month a year ago, contributing negatively to the global result. The cumulative rates were -1.1% in the year and of -2.3% in the last 12 months.

The activity of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery presented a change in the volume of sales of -6.4% over September 2016, with cumulative rates of -3.6% in the nine months of the year and of -6.4% in the last 12 months. The downward trend of this activity has been being influenced by the gradual replacement of printing by electronic documents. Also there is the impact of the price rises above the inflation.

With the 9.3% advance over September 2016, the extended retail trade recorded the highest positive rate since October 2012, accumulating from January to September 2.7% rise in sales. Conversely, the cumulative rate in the last 12 months was practically stable (-0.1%).  The performance of the segment reflected , mostly, the behavior of the sales of vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, which presented an advance of 10.8% against September 2016, exerting the main contribution to the overall result of the extended retail and accumulated a 0.5% change from January to September and -3.1% in the last 12 months. As to the sector of construction material, the change in the volume of sales was of 15.5% over September 2016. In cumulative terms, the rates stood at 7.5% in the fist nine month s and at 3.7% in the last 12 months.

Retail sales grew 4.3% in Q3

The National sales, increasing 4.3% in Q3 2017, accelerated the pace o growth in relation to the 2nd quarter of the year and recorded the highest positive rate since the first quarter o 2014 (4.5%), all comparisons against the same period a year ago.  The increase in the pace of the retail sales from the 2nd to the 3rd quarter of 2017 was seen in five of the eight activities surveyed, with a highlight to furniture and domestic appliances (from 8.8% in Q2 to 15.3% in Q3), fabric, apparel and footwear (from 6.5% to 12.1%), Pharmaceutical, medical and orthopedic goods and toiletries (1.1% to 4.9%), influenced, to a large extent, by the low base of comparison, as well as by the impact of the recomposition of the circulating real wage bill.

The extended retail trade also demonstrated advance in the pace of sales from the 2nd (2.9%) to the 3rd quarter of 2017 (7.5%), both compared to the same quarter a year ago. The activity of vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and of Construction material made the same move, but even sharper: from -0.9% in Q2 to 10.4% in Q3 and from 5.0% to 13.2%, respectively.

Trade sales grow in 18 of the 27 Federation Units

Between August and September 2017, in the seasonally adjusted series, the retail trade recorded advance in 18 of the 27 Federation Units, with Paraíba (3.5%), Amazonas (3.3%), Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul (both with 3.1%) recording the highest rates in terms of magnitude. on the other hand, among the states which recorded negative changes over August, the highlight is Minas Gerais (-2.0%). Piauí kept the sales stable over August.

In comparison with September 2016, the results were positive in 23 of the 27 Federation Units, with highlight to Mato Grosso (18.1%), Acre (17.3%) and Rondônia (16.7%). The greatest drops, in terms of magnitude, were observed in Goiás (-7.2%); Roraima (-4.5%) and the Federal District (-3.1%). As to the participation in the formation of the overall rate of the retail trade, the highlights, in order of importance, were:  São Paulo (6.9%), Rio Grande do Sul (12.9%), Paraná (10.4%) and Santa Catarina (15.1%).

As to the extended retail trade, 25 of the 27 Federation Units presented positive changes in the comparison with the same period a year ago, with a highlight in terms of volume of sales Tocantins (24.4%); Amazonas (20.8%); and Rio Grande do Sul (20.4%) With negative rates, there are Goiás (-8.4%) and Rondônia (-4.0%).