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In the seasonally-adjusted series, volume of sales of the national retail trade changed
1.0% in April 2018 over March, after advancing 1.1% between March and February. As a result, the quarterly moving average stayed at 0.7% and maintained the pace of the previous quarter, ended in March (0.7%). In the seasonally-unadjusted series, the retail trade grew 0.6% in relation to April 2017. It was the thirteenth positive rate in a row, though the less intense. It is worth mentioning the shift of Eastern, which exerted a negative influence on sales in April 2018. As a result, the retail accrued a rise of 3.4% in the year. The cumulative index over the last 12 months increased 3.7%, virtually maintaining the pace of March (3.8%).

In the extended retail trade – which includes the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, and Construction material –, volume of sales changed 1.3% over March and the quarterly moving average stood at 1.1% in the quarter ended in April. It rose 8.6% against April 2017, registering the twelfth consecutive positive rate and accruing a gain of 7.4% in the year. The cumulative rate over the last 12 months (7.0%), which maintained the upward trend started in July 2016 (-10.4%), was the highest one since May 2013 (7.6%). The support material of this release of the PMC is on the right side of this page.

Growth reaches all eight activities surveyed

In the seasonally-adjusted series, the 1.0% change in volume of sales of the retail trade between March and April 2018 reached all the eight activities surveyed. The highest rates were registered in Office, computer and communication material and equipment (4.8%), Fuels and lubricants (3.4%), Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (1.5%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (1.0%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (0.9%), Furniture and household appliances (0.7%), Fabric, apparel and footwear (0.3%), whereas Other articles of personal and domestic use (0.0%) remained stable.

Reaching three out of the eight activities, volume in the retail trade increased 0.6% over April 2017, recording the thirteenth positive figure in a row. They are, in order of contribution to the overall rate: Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (10.3%), Furniture and household appliances (5.6%) and Office, computer and communication material and equipment (4.9%). The segments of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.0%) and Other articles of personal and domestic use (-0,1%) remained stable. Fabric, apparel and footwear (-7.3%), Fuels and lubricants (-1.3%) and Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-4.1%) negatively pressed the overall rate.

Compared with April 2017, the sector of Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (10.3%) exerted the biggest positive impact on the global performance of the retail. The result of April 2018 marks the twelfth consecutive positive rate and the highest one since September 2014 (10.4%). The reduction in the prices of pharmaceuticals could be one of the relevant factors for this positive performance. The activity advanced 5.5% over the last 12 months and 6.3% in the year, maintaining the upward trend.

Furniture and household appliances recorded an advance once again (5.6%) against April 2017, being the second biggest positive influence on the overall rate.  This result, above the overall average of sales, was related to the increased availability of credit to natural persons.  The cumulative index in the year stayed at 2.6% and, in the last 12 months, at 9.6%.

Office, computer and communication material and equipment advanced 4.9% over April 2017, after declining 6.7% in March. As a result, the cumulative rate in the year expanded 2.1% and, in the last 12 months, remained virtually stable (0.1%).

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco remained stable (0.0%) against April 2017. This figure reflected the shift of the Easter moving holiday, producing negative impact particularly in this sector. Even so, this segment accrued an expansion of 5.0% in the first four months in the year, benefited from the maintenance of the real usual wage bill and from the systematic reduction of the inflation of food at home. In terms of the cumulative index in 12 months, that activity advanced 3.5%, maintaining the upward trend since March 2017 (-3.0%).  

Other articles of personal and domestic use also remained stable (-0.1%) compared with April 2017, negatively affected by the Easter moving holiday as well. Considering the result of April, the cumulative index in the year stood at 8.0%. The cumulative rate over the last 12 months (5.6%) maintained the recovery started in September 2016 (-10.4%).

The activity of Fabric, apparel and footwear was the major negative pressure on the overall rate (-7.3% against April 2017). It was the third negative rate in a row, accruing a drop of 3.1% in the first four months of the year. The cumulative rate over the last 12 months (4.8%) was the less intense since November 2017 (4.9%).

Fuels and lubricants (-1.3% against April 2017) posted the fortieth consecutive negative rate, though the lowest one since October 2017 (-0.9%). 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. As a result, this segment fell 4.1% in the first four months of the year, the cumulative index over the last 12 months dropped (-2.9%), though it was in an upward trend since February 2017 (-8.9%).

Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-4.1% over April 2017) was influenced by the replacement of printed products by electronic ones, particularly newspapers and magazines. As a result, this segment accrued a retreat of 7.6% in the year. Despite being a negative figure, the cumulative rate over the last 12 months (-5.2%) has been signaling a recovery since October 2016 (-16.8%).

The extended retail trade rose 8.6% over April 2017, registering the twelfth positive rate in a row. This result was mainly impacted by the positive performance of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (36.5%), which accounted for nearly 80% of the overall rate. As a result, the extended retail trade accrued a gain of 7.4% in the first four months of 2018, compared with the same period last year.

The sector of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (36.5% over April 2017 recorded the highest rate since November 2009 (37.2%). It was the twelfth consecutive positive figure, contributing to the cumulative rate of 22.2% in the year. The cumulative index over the last 12 months (13.0%) was the highest figure since July 2011 (13.5%) and remained in an upward trend since February 2017 (-13.2%).

Having registered 15.9% in April 2018, Construction material increased once again compared with April 2017. It was the sharpest change since October 2017 (18.6%). This sector accrues an expansion of 6.6% in the first four months of the year. The cumulative index in 12 months (10.3%) maintained the upward trend since July 2016 (-12.9%).

Regional figures: advance in 14 states in April

Between March and April 2018, the sales in the retail trade advanced in 14 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted, in terms of the magnitude of the rate, by São Paulo (3.6%), Rondônia (2.8%) and Espírito Santo (1.8%), whereas Pernambuco, Alagoas and Ceará remained stable (0.0%). The most intense retreat was reported in Amazonas (-8.5%). The sales in the extended retail trade increased in the 19 out of the 27 activities, highlighted by Espírito Santo (4.0%), Sergipe (3.7%) and Paraíba (3.6%). The biggest decline was in Acre (-4.8%).

Compared with April 2017, the retail trade posted an increase in the sales in 16 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted, in terms of the magnitude of the rate, by Tocantins (13.8%), Rondônia (7.9%) and Acre (7.7%), whereas São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro remained stable (0.0%). Pernambuco (-3.9%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (-3.7%) registered the highest negative rates. Concerning the share in the composition of the positive rate of the retail, the highlights were: Santa Catarina (5.0%), Rio Grande do Sul (2.2%) and Espírito Santo (5.8%).

Considering the extended retail trade in the comparison with April 2017, the 27 Federation Units reported positive changes in volume of sales in April 2018, highlighted by Rondônia (20.1%), Espírito Santo (18.7%) and Tocantins (16,5%). Regarding the share in the composition of the positive rate of the extended retail (8.6%), the highlights were: São Paulo (10.8%), Santa Catarina (15.4%) and Minas Gerais (8.7%).