In July, retail trade in the country recorded increase of 1.4% in volume of sales over the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series. Nominal revenue increased by 1.6%. As a result, the sector completed a period of three consecutive months with positive rates in volume of sales and of 16 months in nominal revenue.

 Considering the indexes without seasonal adjustment, there was increase of 7.1% in volume of sales over July 2010, of 7.3% in the first seven months of 2011 and of 8.5% in the last 12 months. For the same indicators, nominal revenue was higher by 1.5%, 12.3% and 13.2%, respectively.

The complete publication is available at www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/comercio/pmc/.

Only Amapá recorded negative results over July 2010 figures

Among the 27 Federation Units, Amapá was the only one to record a negative July in result, with decrease of -2.7% in volume of sales over the same month in the previous year. The highlights in terms of increase rate were Tocantins (25.0%), Rondônia (18.0%), Bahia (10.7%), Paraíba (10.2%) and Pernambuco (10.1%). As for the participation in the formation of retail trade, the main FU, in order, were São Paulo (6.9%), Rio de Janeiro (6.9%), Minas Gerais (7.9%), Bahia (10.7%) and Paraná (8.0%).

Considering extended retail trade, with Amapá recording again the only negative result, -9.7% over July 2010, the highest performance rates in volume of sales were those of Tocantins (30.7%), Espírito Santo (29.2%), Rondônia (13.9%), Santa Catarina (10.3%) and Minas Gerais (10.2%). In terms of impact on the overall result of the sector, the main highlights were those of São Paulo (7.0%), Rio de Janeiro (8.3%), Minas Gerais (10.2%), Espírito Santo (29.2%) and Paraná (10.1%).

Also considering the Federation Units, the seasonally-adjusted results over the same month in the previous year, for volume of sales, were positive in 23 of the 27 states, and the highlights were Acre (5.2%), Roraima (4.0%), Rondônia (3.6%), Tocantins (3.4%) and Maranhão (3.3%). The states with the most significant decreases in volume of sales, in the same comparison, were Amapá (-7.7%), Alagoas (-1.1%), Amazonas (-0.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-0.3%).

Eight of the ten activities recorded positive changes

In the series with seasonal adjustment, eight of the ten activities recorded positive changes in terms of volume of sales: Furniture and household appliances (4.1%); Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (1.6%); Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (1.1%); Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles (1.1%); Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (0.9%); Fuels and lubricants (0.8%); Construction material (0.6%) and Other articles of personal and domestic use (0.6%). Negative changes occurred in Office, computer and communication material and equipment (-12.5%) and Textiles, apparel and footwear (-2.9%).

Compared to July 2010, all the activities recorded increase: Furniture and household appliances (21,.4%); Office, computer and communication material and equipment (15.9%); Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics  (10.3%); Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (8.8%); Construction material (7.5%); Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery articles (6.6%); Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (4.5%); Other articles of personal and domestic use (3.0%); Textiles, apparel and footwear (1.4%) and Fuels and lubricants (0.4%).

Furniture and household appliances, with increase of 21.4% in terms of volume of sales over July last year, accounted for the biggest participation of the overall retail trade rate (49%) and for the second main contribution to the formation of the extended retail trade rate (27%). In terms of accumulated figures, changes reached 18.3% in the year and 17.8% in 12 months. This performance resulted from the expansion of employment and income, from the continuation of credit, as well as from the fall of prices of electronic items (-7.0% in the last 12 months up to July, according to IPCA).

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with change of 4.5% in volume of sales over July in the previous year, accounted for 31% of the retail trade rate (the second biggest contribution) and for 17% of the result of extended retail trade (third biggest impact). Despite the bigger rhythm of increase in the last few months, the activity kept a performance below average, due to the behavior of food prices, which rose above average in the period of 12 months: 8.3% in the group meals taken in the household, versus 6.9% of the total inflation, according to the IPCA. In terms of accumulated results, change rates were 4.0% for the index accumulated in the first seven months of the year, by 5.3% in the last 12 months. 

The 10.3% of increase in volume of sales of Pharmaceuticals, medical, orthopedic and perfumery articles caused this activity to account for the third and fourth biggest impacts on the formation of results of retail trade and extended retail trade, respectively. With increases of 10.6% accumulated in the year and of 11.3% accumulated in the last 12 months, the segment remained above the overall rate of retail trade in all comparisons. The main factors accounting for this result were the continued of rise of salaries, the increased supply of generic medicines (stimulating consumption due to better prices) and the essential nature of products of this group.

Extended retail changed by 0.6% in terms of volume of sales

Extended retail trade, which includes retail trade and the activities Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, has kept positive results, with changes of 0.6% over the previous month for volume of sales and of 1.0% for nominal revenue of sales, being both rates seasonally adjusted.  In the other comparisons, volume of sales grew by 7.7% over July 2010, 9.0% accumulated in the years and 10.5% accumulated in 12 months. In terms of the same indicators, nominal revenue increased, respectively, by 10.5%, 11.8% and 13.4%.

Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces recorded change of 8.8% over July 2010, of 11.5% for the period January-July and of 13.7% accumulated in the last 12 months. As for Construction material, the changes were 7.5% compared to July last years, 11.7% in the first seven months of 2011 and 13.3% accumulated in the last 12 months.