The sector of Hypermarket, supermarket, food products, beverages and tobacco recorded a change of -4.4% in the volume of sales in April over the same month a year ago, exerting the highest negative impact in the formation of the overall retail rate. The drop in the month of April - the 15th consecutive fall in this comparison, was the sharpest in the last two months. It is worth mentioning that, in 2015, the Easter holiday, with a direct impact in the sales of this sector, occurred in April, whereas, in 2016, the celebration occurred in March. The sector's performance confirms the downward trend, accumulating, for the first four months of the year, a loss of 3.2% and, in 12 months, of -3.1%. The performance of this activity has been influenced by the decrease in the real income, coupled with the prices of food at home measured by the IPCA.

The segment of Fuels and lubricants, with a decrease of 10.8% in the volume of sales in relation to April 2015, represented the second biggest negative contribution in the total result of retail. The cumulative rate in the first four months of the year was of -9.8% and, in the last 12 months, -8.2%. The performance of the activity was influenced by the price rise in fuels, as well as the decrease in the real income and credit reductions.

The activity of Other personal and household articles, which encompasses department stores, glasses shops, jewelry shops, sporting goods stores and toy stores, etc., exerted the second negative influence in the formation of the retail rate, with a change of -10.4% in the volume of sales in relation to the same period of 2015. In cumulative terms, the rates recorded were of -12.2% in the first four months of the year and of -6.7% in the last 12 months.

The activity of furniture and household appliances closes the set of the three segments responsible for the second major negative contribution to the general index, with a drop of 10.1% in the volume of sales in relation to last year - the 17th negative rate in this kind of comparison. In cumulative terms, the results were of -15.4% for the first four months of the year and of -16.2% for the last 12. Such negative behavior has been attributable to factors like: credit restriction, mainly due to the increase in the interest rate for individuals, as well as to the previously mentioned reduction in the real wage bill.

The segment of Fabric, apparel and footwear, which recorded a change of -8.8% in volume of sales in comparison with April a year ago, accounted for the third biggest negative contribution to the overall retail rate. It is worth mentioning that the fall seen in April, though the 17th consecutive one, was the least intense in the year. In relation to the cumulative rates, the results were of -12.2% for the first four months of the year and of -10.8% for the last 12. This segment, although leveraged by constant promotional campaigns, has been suffering from the impact of the reductions of the already mentioned real earnings of the workers.

The sector of Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles and toiletries registered a fall of 1.3% in the volume of sales in relation to April 2015. April's negative result reflected the recent price rise in the sector, which for the first time in 10 years, had an increase above the inflation and exerted the fourth negative contribution in the overall result of the retail. However, the sales of continuous-use drugs guarantees that the cumulative rates be kept in the positive level: 1.5 % in the year and of 1.7% for the last 12 months.

The segment of Office, computer and communication equipment and material, also responsible for the fourth negative contribution in the formation of the global rate, recorded a  change of -14.6% over the same month a year ago - the tenth consecutive fall in this kind of comparison. The appreciation of the US dollar against the real and credit restrictions were among the factors that have been influencing the negative performance in the latest months. In cumulative terms, the rates recorded were of -16.2% in the first four months of the year and of -11.1% for the last 12 months.

Having changed -18.7% in terms of volume of sales over April 2015, the activity of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery was responsible for the lowest negative contribution to the overall retail figure. In terms of cumulative rates, the changes in the four months of the year and in the last 12 months were -15.5% and -13.8%, respectively. The declining trend of this activity, particularly for books and newspapers, has been influenced by the replacement of print by digital publishing. 

In April 2016, considering the  extended retail trade, the change in relation to the month a year ago was -9.1% for the volume of sales. This performance reflects, above all, the behavior of sales of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, which presented decrease of 13.8% over April 2015 and the fall of 13.0% inConstruction material for the same period. In terms of cumulative rates, the changes in the four months of the year were -13.6% and -14.3 and in the last 12 months, -17.2% and -11.6%, respectively. In both segments, the results were influenced by the lower pace of the economic activity and greater restriction in the budget of the families.

Volume of sales up in 17 of the 27 Federation Units

Regionally, in the seasonally-adjusted series of the retail trade, 17 out of the 27 Federation Units registered positive changes for volume of sales over the previous month. In terms of the magnitude of the advance, the highlights were: Sergipe (6.3%); Amapá (3.5%) and Paraná (2.9%). Minas Gerais remained stable in this type of comparison, whereas Rondônia (-3.7%), Bahia (-1.8%) and Amazonas (-1.6%) recorded the highest rates in the negative level.

In the comparison with April 2015, the reduction of the volume of sales in the retail reached 26 of the 27 Federation Units. Roraima, with a rate of 0.1%, was practically stable. In terms of the magnitude of the rate, the highlights were: Amapá (-15.1%); Rondônia (-14.7%); Amazonas (-14.3%), Federal District(-13.8%) and Bahia (13.1%). As to the participation in the formation of the overall rate of the retail trade, the highlights, in order of importance, were:  São Paulo (-6.8%), Rio de Janeiro (-5.7%); Rio Grande do Sul (-9.4%) and Bahia (-12.2%).