In November 2017, retail trade in the country recorded an increase of 0.7% in volume of sales against the figure in the prevous month, making up for the decrease of 0.7% recorded last October. The quarterly moving average remained virtually syable (0.1%).

In the series without adjustment, against the same month a year ago, retail trade increased 5.9% in November 2017, the eighth psitive rate in a row and the second highest one recorded in 2017.

The volume of sales in the period January-November was 1.9%; the cumulative index in the last 12 months increased 1.1% in November 2017, and has remained on an upward trend since October 2016 (-6.8%).

In extended retail trade – which includes, besides retail, the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction Material - the volume of sales increased 2.5% against the October figure, with a change above that in the previous month (-1.7%). As a result, the quarterly moving average recorded a positive change once more: 0.6% in the quarter ended November.

Against November 2016, the volume of sales of extended retail increased 8.7%, with the seventh positive rate in a row, and cumulative results of 3.7% in the year and of  2.6% in the last 12 months. Click here to see the complete publication.

Five of the eight activities surveyed recorded positive changes from October to November

The increase in the volume of retail trade sales (0.7%) from October to November 2017, in the seasonally adjusted series, resulted from a predominance of positive results, observed in five of the eight activities surveyed. The sectors recording the biggest increases were: Other personal and household articles (8.0%); and Furniture and household appliances (6.1%), both characterized by regular online sales. With positive changes we can mention: Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (1.4%); Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (1.2%); and Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco which, with an increase of 0.8%, accounted for the eighth consecutive increase in this type of comparison, in a period marked by cumulative increase of 6.5%. On the other hand, there was reduction of sales against October 2017, in the cases of: Fuels and lubricants, with a decrease of 1.8% and Office, computer and communication material and equipment (-5.8%), both making up respectively, for the positive 1.6% and 2.7% recorded in the previous month. The sector of Fabric, apparel and footwear (0. 0%) kept sales stable from October to November 2017.

Considering extended retail trade, the volume of sales in November recorded a decrease of 2.5% against the result of October 2017, in the seasonally adjusted series, with the sales of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material recording increases of  1.5% and 2.3% against the previous month.

In November 2017, against the same month a year ago, hd an increase of 5.9% with sales increase in five of the eight activities surveyed. The highlight, in order of positive contribution to the overall retail trade rate, was Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco (5.2%), the most relevant sector to retail, followed by Furnitiue and óhousehold appliances (15.6%); and Other personal and household articles (8.1%), sectors in which sales were boosted by the online segment. Also accouting for positive contributions were: Fabric, apparel and footwear (9.1%) and Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (8.0%). On the other hand, Fules and lubricants (-2.5%); Office, computer and communication material and equipment (-6.8%); and Books, newspapers, magazine and stationary (-2.3%) had a negative impact on the overall result of November 2017.

The sector of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco, with an increase of 5.2% against the result of November 2016, accounted for the main positive impact on the overall retail trade rate. The performance of that activity has been benefited by factros such as the increase of the usually earned wage bill and the deflation of food prices in the housing units. As a result, the cumulative index in the year stayed at 1.0% and the cumu,ative increase in 12 months, at 0.6%, the first onse since February 2015 (0.3%), after 33 months of retraction.

The segment of Furniture and household articles, with an increase of 15.6% in volume of sales against November last year, it was responsible for the second positive impact on the overall retail trade rate in November 2017. The positive behavior of the sector in November 2017 reflects the promotional events of November, especially Internet purchases, and the influence of factors such as the reduction of interest rate to natural persons, besides the recent performance of the job market. The cumulative results were 9.7% for the Jan-Nov period and 7.5% in the last 12 months. 

The activity Other personal and household articles, which encompasses segments such as department stores, glasses shops, jewelry shops, sporting goods stores, toy stores, etc., with an increase of 8.1% in the volume of sales against November 2016, accounted for the third biggest positive contribution to the overall rate. In the year, sales in the sector recorded a hike of 2.6%, and, in the last 12 months, the rate remained positive for the second month in a row: 1.6%

Fabric, apparel and footwear, with a change of 9.1% in relation to November a year ago, accounted for the fourth main contribution to the overall retail trade rate. The results for cumulative indicators were: 7.7% in the year and 4.9% in the last 12 months. With the increase of wage bill and the apparel prices below the overall average price, the performance of this activity has remained above the retail trade average.

The activity Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries, 8.0% up, accounted for the fifth major contribution to the overall retail trade rate. The cumulative figure in Jan-Nov was 2.0%, whereas the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, with a rate of 13%, recorded a positive change for the second month in a row.

Office, computer and communication material and equipment fell by 6.8% and decreased 6.8% over the figure in 2016, despite the deflation of personal computer prices. The cumulative rates in the year and in 12 months stayed at -1.2%.  

Fuels and lubricants, with a decrease of 2.5% in the volume of sales against November 2016, accounted for the biggest negative contribution to the overall retail trade rate. The rise of fuel prices above the average price change is a relevant factor that has affected the sector. As a consequence, from January to November the sector had cumulative change of -2.9%. Although the sectors has had a sequence of negative monthly rates, there is a tendency to recovery of cumulative indexes of the last twelve months. Having recorded a change of -3.2% in November 2017, Fuels and lubricants keeps its upwards trend, initiated in September 2016 (-10.1%).

The volume of sales of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery changed by -2,3% against the November 2016 figure, with a cumulative rate of -3.5% in the first ten months of the year. Despite the sequence of negative monthly rates, the cumulative indicator in 12 months (-4.6%) has been recovering since October 2016 (-16.8%). The behavior of that activity has been influenced by the gradual loss of space due to the spread of the electronic format, besides the impact of price rises above the inflation.

With an increase of 8.7% against November 2016, extended retail trade registered the seventh positive rate, with a cumulative increase of sales (3.7%) between January and November. The cumulative rate in the last 12 months (2.6%) had its second positive result. That performance reflected, above allthe the behavior of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, which increased by 9.2% versus November 2016, and represented the main contribution to the overall result of extended retail trade, with a cumulative change of 2.4% in 2017. The cumulative indicator in 12 months, after 44 months of retraction, reached a positive rate of 0.8%, the first one since February (1.1%).

Sales up in 24 of the 27 Federation Units

From October to November 2017, in the seasonally adjusted series, the increase of retail trade volume of sales (0.7%) was observed in 24 of the 27 Federation Units, among which Minas Gerais (6.8%) stood out. On the otgher hand, among sttes with negative changes against October, Tocantins was the main one (-1.8%).

Versus those in November 2016, the results of retail trade were positive in 23 of the 27 Federation Units, being highlights, in terms of size, Santa Catarina (15.7%), Rio Grande do Sul (14.8%) and Mato Grosso (14.2%). As for participation in the retail trade composition, the highlights were: São Paulo (4.7%) and Minas Gerais (12.6%). As for extemded retail trade, 25 of the 27 Federation Units recorded positive changes in volume of sales against the same period in 2016, the main ones having been registered in: Rio Grande do Sul (20.9%); Santa Catarina (19.4%) and Amazonas (19.1%). As for paticipation in extended retail trade, the highlights were São Paulo (6.4%), Rio Grande do Sul (20.9%) and Santa Catarina (19.4%).