In the seasonally-adjusted series, volume of sales of the national retail trade changed -0.2% in February 2018, after advancing 0.8% between December and January. As a result, the quarterly moving average remained stable (0.0%). In the seasonally-unadjusted series, the retail trade grew 1.3% in relation to February 2017. It was the eleventh positive rate in a row, though the less intense. As a result, the retail accrued a rise of 2.3% in the year. The cumulative index over the last 12 months rose 2.8%, maintaining the ongoing recovery since October 2016.

In the extended retail trade, which includes the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and of Construction material, volume of sales changed 0.1% over January, causing the quarterly moving average to remain close to stability (-0.1%) in the quarter ended in February. It rose 5.2% against February 2017, registering the tenth consecutive positive rate and accruing a gain of 5.9% in the year. The cumulative index over the last 12 months (5.4%) was the highest one since July 2013 (5.8%). The support material of this release of the PMC is on the right side of this page.

Four of eight activities surveyed register negative changes

In the seasonally-adjusted series, the negative change in volume of sales of the retail trade between January and February 2018 reached four out of the eight activities surveyed. The most relevant retreat was recorded in Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-0.6%), the highest weight in the retail, followed by Fabric, apparel and footwear (-1.7%) and Other articles of personal and domestic use (-0.8%), all of them offsetting the advances in January of 2.3%, 0.8% and 7.3%, respectively. Having declined 1.4%, Fuels and lubricants recorded the fourth negative figure in a row.

The following activities posted a positive result against January 2018: Furniture and household appliances (1.5%), Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (0.8%); Office, computer and communication material and equipment (2.7%) and Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (1.6%).

In relation to February 2017, volume of the retail trade rose 1.3%, posting the eleventh consecutive positive result and reaching five out of the eight activities. In order of contribution to the overall rate, they were: Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (2.0%), Other articles of personal and domestic use (8.3%), Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (4.3%), Furniture and household appliances (3.2%) and Office, computer and communication material and equipment (5.8%). On the other hand, the negative pressures were: Fuels and lubricants (-7.0%), Fabric, apparel and footwear (-5.8%) and Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-5.6%).

Compared with February 2017, the sector of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (2.0%) exerted the biggest positive impact on the overall performance of the retail. The February´s figure registered the eleventh positive rate in a row, though the less intense since August 2017 (1.7%). The increase in the usual real wage bill and the systematic decrease in the inflation of food at home were the main factors that leveraged the positive performance of the sector, which accrued a gain of 2.6% in the year. In terms of the cumulative index over the last 12 months, this activity advanced 2.0%, maintaining the upward trend since March 2017 (-3.0%).

Other articles of personal and domestic use increased 8.3% compared with February 2017, above the overall retail average. The cumulative index in the year was 9.2%. The cumulative rate over the last 12 months was 4.3%, the highest rate since September 2015 (3.4%), maintaining the upturn started in September 2016 (-10.4%).

Volume of sales of Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics expanded 4.3% over February 2017. Of essential nature, the pharmaceutical sector recorded the tenth consecutive positive figure in February 2018, exerting the third biggest contribution to the overall rate, though the lowest positive change since July 2017 (2.2%). The cumulative rate in the January-February period stayed at 4.9%. The cumulative index over the last 12 months was 3.8%, maintaining the upward trend since April 2017 (-3.5%).

Furniture and household appliances (3.2%) posted the tenth consecutive positive rate against February 2017, though the less intense among them. This result, above the overall average of sales, was related to the increased availability of credit to natural persons.  As a result, the cumulative index in the year was 4.3%. The cumulative rate over the last 12 months (10.4%) maintained the upturn started in March 2016 (-16.6%).

Having advanced 5.8% over February 2017, Office, computer and communication material and equipment registered the second positive rate in a row. As a result, the cumulative index in the year stayed at 5.2%. The cumulative rate over the last 12 months (-0.7%) maintained the upturn started in March 2017 (-10.8%).

Compared with February 2017, Fuels and lubricants (-7.0%) exerted the biggest negative contribution to the overall retail figure. It was the eighty consecutive negative rate and steeper than that in the previous month (-4.1%), influenced by the rise in fuel prices above the average change of prices. As a result, the cumulative index in the year remained negative (-5.5%), whereas the cumulative rate over the last 12 months was also negative (-3.0%), though in an upward trend since February 2017 (-8.9%).

Having changed -5.8% in relation to February 2017, Fabric, apparel and footwear recorded the first negative rate after 12 consecutive positive ones. As a result, the cumulative rate in the year stood at -2.6%. The cumulative index over the last 12 months (7.0%) maintained the upturn started in October 2016 (-11.5%).

Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery changed -5.6% against February 2017, especially influenced by newspapers and magazines, due to the replacement of some printed products with digital media. The cumulative rate in the January-February period was -6.5%. The cumulative index over the last 12 months remained negative (-3.5%), though signaling a recovery since October 2016 (-16.8%).

Considering the extended retail trade, the change remained close to the stability (-0.1%), since Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and accessories advanced 2.5%, whereas Construction material dropped 0.3% in volume of sales

Volume of sales of the extended retail rose 5.2% against February 2017, representing the tenth consecutive positive rate, leveraged by the positive performance of Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces (20%), which accounted for 65% of the extended retail. As a result, the extended retail accrued an expansion of 5.9% in the first bimester. The cumulative index over the last 12 months stayed at 5.4% and maintained the recovery reported since July 2016 (-10.4%).

Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces advanced 20.0% in volume of sales against February 2017, the highest rate since April 2013 (22.5%), accruing 19.0% in the year. The cumulative index over the last 12 months (7.1%) was the highest figure since July 2013 (6.2%) and remained in an upward trend since February 2017 (-13.2%).

Construction material (6.0%) completed ten months of rises in the comparison with the same month a year ago, though with the least intense change since June 2017 (6.7%). The rate stayed at 6.8% in the cumulative index between January and February. The cumulative index in 12 months (10.0%) showed an upward trend since July 2016 (-12.9%) and registered the highest rate since April 2012 (9.4%).

Regional figures: advances in 12 states in February

In the seasonally-adjusted series, sales in the retail trade advanced in 12 out of the 27 Federation Units between January and February 2018, highlighted by Tocantins (9.9%). Mato Grosso (0.0%) remained stable. The biggest retreats were reported in Rio Grande do Norte (-3.2%) and the Federal District (-3.0%). Still in the seasonally-adjusted series, 15 out of the 27 Federation Units increased their sales in the extended retail trade. The highest rates were recorded in Amapá (7.4%), Espírito Santo (7.2%) and Tocantins (7.0%), whereas the lowest change was in Rio Grande do Norte (-4.6%).

In the seasonally-unadjusted series, the retail trade advanced in 17 out of the 27 Federation Units against February 2017, highlighted by Tocantins (19.7%), Espírito Santo (16.9%) and Roraima (12.0%). On the other hand, Goiás (-9.7%) and the Federal District (-3.0%) posted the most intense drops. Concerning the share in the composition of this retail trade, the highlights were: Rio Grande do Sul (10.0%), Santa Catarina (9.3%) and Espírito Santo (16.9%).

Regarding the extended retail trade, 23 out of the 27 Federation Units registered positive changes in volume of sales when compared with the same period a year ago, highlighted by Espírito Santo (34.9%), Tocantins (20.7%) and Roraima (16.8%). In the composition of the positive rate of the extended retail, São Paulo (4.9%), Santa Catarina (12.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (10.0%) stood out.