The volume of sales accumulated in the year was 4.62%, and in the last twelve months, 6.34%. The nominal revenue, concerning the same periods, 11.47% and 12.72%, respectively. In relation to July 2004, there was increase of the volume of sales in 22 of the 27 Federative Units

In July 2005, IBGE’s Monthly Survey of Trade showed that the retail sector in the country grew by 0.31% in terms of volume of sales and 0.47% in terms of nominal revenue, in relation to June, considering the seasonally adjuested series. The volume of sales grew by 4.50% over July; its accumulated rate was 4.62% in the year and 6.34% in the last 12 months. Nominal trade figures increased by 9.33% over July 2004, accumulating 11.47% in the year and 12.72% in the last 12 months.

Considering four of the eight activities of retail trade, still in relation to June and for the seasonally adjusted series, there was growth only of the volume of sales of Textiles, Apparel and Footwear (7.23%). The results of the remaining activities were: Fuels and Lubricants (-4.74%); Furniture and Electronic Appliances (-1.88%) and Hypermarkets and Supermarkets, Food Products, Beverages and Tobacco (-0.80%).

In relation to July 2004, the volume of sales of six out of eight retail activities grew: Hypermarkets, Supermarkets, Food Products, Beverages and Tobacco (3.33%); Furniture and Electric Appliances (17.40%); Textiles, Apparel and Footwear (7.22%); Pharmaceutical medical and orthopeudical, perfumery and cosmetics (4.52%); Office equipment and material, information and communication (58.18%) and Other articles of personal and domestic use (13.63%). The rewere fall sin Fuels and Lubricants (-10.56%) and Newspapers, Magazines and Stationery (-1.78%).

In July, the major positive impact on the monthly rate of the volume of sales retail trade sales was Furniture and household appliances. It has reached rates above average, being benefited by the maintenance of favorable conditions of direct consumer credit transactions, and by the personal loans paid through salary accounts. The accumulated changes reached 19.33% in the year and 20.82% in the last twelve months.

The volume of sales of Hypermarkets, supermarkets,food products, beverages and tobacco, grew by 3.33% over July 2004 and also had a significant influence on the growth of retail trade. This result was influenced by the stability of the level of employment and by the growth by 2.5% (over June 2005) of the average income of the employed population in the six areas investigated by the Monthly Survey of Employment. The segment accumulated rates of 3.36% in the year and of 5.58% in the last 12 months.

The 13.63% of monthly growth of the volume of sales of Other articles of personal and domestic use also contributed to the positive performance of retail trade in July, once this activity encompasses fields affected by credit policies, such as department stores, glasses shops, sporting goods, toys, etc. The volume of sales accumulated in the year surpassed the average of retail trade, reaching 13.35%.

Still in relation to July 2004, the fourth major impact over Retail Trade was Textiles, apparel and footwear,once its sales increased by 7.22%, influenced by the end of the season. The rates accumulated in the year and in the last 12 months were 2.80% and 2.35%, respectively.

The activity of Office, computer and communication equipment with a change of 58.18% in relation to July/04, accumulated in the year an increase of 40.57%. Such results are explained by the raise of the value of the Brazilian currency (Real) in relation to the dollar, which has caused computer items to become relatively cheaper, as shown by the Extended Consumer Price Index – IPCA, whose change in the last twelve months for the item Personal computers was –6.25%.

With reference to the negative results of volume of sales in the comparison July05/July04, the biggest impact on the formation of the rate of Retail Trade was, undoubtedly, from Fuels and lubricants (-10.56%), which had the seventh negative consecutive result. Such behavior is due to the rise of fuel prices extremely above average (10.87% in 12 months, according to the  IPCA). The segment accumulated fall of –7.19% in the year and of –3.34% in the last 12 months.

Twenty-two of the twenty-seven Federative units registered increase of the voulme of sales in relation to the same month last year. The most significant changes were observed in Tocantins (36.45%); Paraíba (32.53%); Acre (29.09%); Sergipe (22.71%); Rio Grande do Norte (21.10%) and Piauí (20.33%). The major contributions to Retail Trade came from São Paulo (2.64%), Rio de Janeiro (5.17%), Goiás (18,50%), Bahia (7.89%), Pernambuco (12.93%) and Ceará (15.57%).

In terms of Extended Retail Trade (retail and the subsectors Vehicles, Motorcycle, Parts and Accessories and Construction Material), the changes in relation to July/04 were 0.54% in terms odf volume of sales and 6.48% in temrs of nominal revenue, results inferior to those of Retail Trade, in the same comparison. The changes accumulated in the year were 3.02% in terms of volume of sales and 11.45% in terms of nominal revenue.

After four months characterized by positive results, the activity Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories fell by – 4.70% in terms of volume of sales over July/04), accumulating 1.81% in the year and 8.43% in the last twelve months. The segment of Construction Material fell by –12.40% in relation to July/04 and by - 6.17% in terms of the rate accumulated in the year.

By Federative Unit, still in relation to Extended Retail Trade, the highest rates in terms os volume of sales occurred in Acre (41.05%); Tocantins (26,09%); Piauí (25.05%); Paraíba (23.82%) and Alagoas (23.18%). The major contributions to the overall result of the sector were, basically, the same as those which determined the rate of Retail Trade, with Pernambuco (12.76%); Ceará (15.72%); Distrito Federal (10.15%) and Rio de Janeiro (2.33%) as the highlights.

The volume of sales with seasonal adjustment was positive in 15 of the 27 Federative Units, especially in Pernambuco (2.32%); Amapá (2,15%); Bahia (1.32%) and Maranhão (1.15%). The most significant falls were observed in Alagoas (-4.51%); Tocantins (-4.42%); Sergipe (-3.89%) and Rondônia (-2.46%).