From March to April, the change of retail trade in the country was -0.23% for the volume of sales and 0.76% for the nominal receipts, both without seasonal influence...

From March to April, the change of retail trade in the country was -0.23% for the volume of sales and 0.76% for the nominal receipts, both without seasonal influence (Graph 1). In relation to April 2004 (series without seasonal adjustment), the sales of retail trade increased 3.40%, and the nominal receipts, 11.82% (Graph 1).

In the year, the volume of sales accumulates a rate of 5.00% and the nominal receipts, 12.30%. In the accumulated index for the last twelve months, the changes were 8.22% for the volume of sales and 13.73% for the nominal receipts.

Regarding extended retail trade, which includes the eight activities of retail trade and the groups of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, the growth was 3.57% vis-à-vis April 2004. In the accumulated index the year, the volume of sales of the extended retail trade increased by 4.08% and the nominal receipts, by 13.47%.

In the seasonally adjusted series, the results for retail trade fell in relation to the rates of March, a month in which the volume of sales were 1.37% and the nominal receipts, 1.94%. These results may have been influenced by the decrease in the real average income which, according to the Monthly Employment Survey (PME) of April, was -1.8% in relation to March (Tables 1 and 2).

In the series with seasonal adjustment, regarding the volume of sales, the activities that presented the highest changes relation to March were Textiles, apparel and footwear (13.72,%) and Furniture and household appliances (1.06%). Considering the activity with major participation in the composition of the index, Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages (-0.47%) and Fuels and lubricants (-1.14%) presented negative changes (Table 1).

In relation to the series without seasonal influence, the volume of sales accumulated in the first four months of the year changed by -1.09%.

Considering the monthly index (April 05/April 04), in the series without seasonal adjustment, the volume of sales of retail trade increased by 3.40%. For the accumulated indexes, the results were 5.00% for the first four months of the year and 8.22% for the last twelve months. Considering extended retail trade, the increase was 3.57% in relation to April 2004 and 4.08% in the accumulated index of the year (Table 1).

In April, the two activities that influenced the monthly indicator positively of retail trade in terms of volume of sales were Furniture and household appliances (23.93%) and Textiles, apparel and footwear (14.77%). On the other hand, the major negative impacts came from Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (–1.22%) and Fuels and lubricants (-9.94%).

Once again, the activity of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco had its performance influenced by the calendar effect. In 2004, Easter was in April. In 2005, however, the holiday was celebrated in March, which caused an unfavorable base effect to the segment of major participation in the retail sector and considerably influenced by this holiday. Hence, the volume of sales of this activity fell 1.22% in relation to April/04, while for the accumulated indexes of the year and of the last twelve months, the segment kept the positive results: 3.88% and 6.91%, respectively.

The activity Fuels and lubricants presented its fourth negative change in terms of volume of sales: -9.94% compared to April/04. This result was influenced by two factors: the first one the decrease of the consumption motivated by the increase in the prices of fuels – according to the IPCA (Extended Consumer Price Index), the accumulated rate of the last twelve months until April (23.85%) was higher than the overall price index of the same period (8.07%). The second one a process of substitution of a more expensive product (gasoline) by others which can be sold at lower prices (hydrated alcohol and natural gas for vehicles – GNV). For the accumulated indexes, the results were also negative: -6.54% in the first four months of the year and -0.05%, in the last 12 months.

The two activities with major impact in the results of retail were Furniture and household appliances and Textiles, apparel and footwear. The growth in the volume of sales of Furniture and household appliances (23.93%) continued to occur because of the more favorable consumer credit conditions, especially the increase in the terms of payment granted by the stores, as well as the influence over consumption of durable goods due to the enlargement of the consumer credit through deduction in the payroll.. This scenario provided to the segment the highest rates of variation in the accumulated index of the year and in 12 months: 19.60% and 24.30%, respectively. (Table 1).

Considering the increase in the volume of sales of Textiles, apparel and footwear (14.77%), in April vis-à-vis the same month of the previous year, it was the second major positive impact in the formation of the overall rate. This is due basically to the typical promote sales of season changing. Hence, the accumulated results of this activity improved: in the year, the rate increased from 1.61% in March to 5.10% in April, while in the last 12 months, the change was from 4.83% to 5.92%.

The other activities that compose the retail trade presented the following results in the comparison April05/ April04: 5.41% for Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic, perfumery and cosmetics articles; and 68.04% for Office, computer and communication equipment and materials; 4.47% for Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery; and 11.67% for Other articles of personal and domestic use. Regarding extended retail index, the changes were 5.57% for Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and –3.16% for Construction material (Table 1).

Among the 27 Federative Units, 25 presented positive results. The major sales changes in relation to April/04, regarding extended retail trade, were observed in Acre (37.38%); Paraíba (29.26%); Tocantins (26.31%); Sergipe (24.31%) and Amazonas (24.02%). Nevertheless, the six states which more influenced positively the performance of the sector in April were: Pernambuco (15.85%); Rio de Janeiro (3.09%); Bahia (6.70%); São Paulo (0.59%); Ceará (13.67%) and Goiás (12.08%).

In relation to the volume of sales in the extended retail trade, the most influential states were Rio de Janeiro, with change of 5.29%; Pernambuco (19.97%); Bahia (9.90%); Federal District (11.91%) and Goiás (12.60%).