The volume of sales of the Retail Trade of the country and the nominal revenue recorded a growth of 1.3% in November of 2011, compared with October, in the seasonally adjusted series.

In relation to November of 2010, the changes were of 6.8% for the volume of sales and of 10.9% for the nominal revenue. In both indicators, the numbers suggest a rise in contrast with the rates observed in October. In the accumulated results of the year and of the last 12 months, the rates were, respectively, of 6.7% and 7.0% for the volume of sales and of 11.7% and 12.1% for the nominal revenue. The complete publication of the survey can be accessed at www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/comercio/pmc/.

In November, the volume of sales dropped only in Ceará and Amapá

In November of 2011 against October 2011, 25 states had positive changes and only two had lows in the volume of sales, in the seasonally adjusted series.

The main increases were registered by Maranhão (6.4%), Acre (6.3%), Mato Grosso (5.8%), Tocantins (4.0%) and Piauí (4.0). The only negative results occurred in Ceará (-1.7%) and Amapá (-0.4%).

In the November11/November10 comparison (with no adjustment) all Federation Units grew. The highlights were:

Tocantins (20.9%), Roraima (17.5%), Paraíba (13.1%); Maranhão (11.8%); and Paraná (11.6%). Concerning the contribution to the rate of the Retail Trade, the highlights were, sorted by order of importance, São Paulo (6.3%); Minas Gerais (10.4%); Rio de Janeiro (6.0%); Paraná (11.6%), and Rio Grande do Sul (6.6%).

As for the volume of sales of the extended retail trade, considering the comparison with November of 2010, 21 states saw positive results. The highest rates occurred in Tocantins (16.4%); Roraima (7.5%); Amazonas (7.1%); Paraná (6.4%) and Paraíba (6.0%).

The main drops happened in Amapá (-12.5%); Alagoas(-3.8%); and Sergipe (-2.9%). In terms of contribution to the positive result of the sector, the highlights were São Paulo (3.6%); Minas Gerais (5.7%); Paraná (6.4%); Rio de Janeiro (3.1%); and Santa Catarina (4.7%).

Nine among the ten activities surveyed registered positive results

In the seasonally adjusted series, there were positive results for nine of the ten activities surveyed in November. The highlights were books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (8.6%); office, computer and communication equipment and material (6.0%); vehicles and motorcycles, parts and accessories (4.6%); fuels and lubricants (1.6%); hyper- and supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (1.3%); construction material (1.3%); other articles of personal and domestic use (1.2%); pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic goods and cosmetic and toilet articles (1.0%); and furniture and domestic appliances (0.3%).

The only negative result was recorded by fabric, apparel and footwear (-0.5%).

In the November 2011/November 2010 comparison, all the eight activities of the retail trade presented highs in the volume of sales. The activities are sorted in order of importance in terms of contribution to the sector in the following paragraphs.

The activity of hyper- and supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with a growth of 6.3% in relation to November of 2010, exerts the main impact (42%) on the rate of retail trade once more.

Despite the rise in the pace of sales this month, which more than doubled in comparison with October (2.3%), the activity still presents a performance below the overall average, 6.8%. In the accumulated results, the changes were of 4.0% for the first eleven months of the year and of 4.2% for the last 12 months. These results are also below the same results registered for the retail trade, despite the decrease in the prices for food in 2011 (in 12 months they contracted from 10.7% in November of 2010 to 5.3% in November of 2011).

Furniture and domestic appliances, with a high of 12.3% over November of 2010, exerted the second major influence on the overall result of retail sales (34%), losing its position of leadership after six months in first place.

In the accumulated indicator in the first 11 months, in contrast with the same period of 2010, the activity increased 16.8% in the volume of sales and 16.9% in the accumulated indicator of the last 12 months. This was the second major performance in 2011, similar to 2010. The contributing factors for that result were the positive behavior (in a context of restriction of credit) of the volume of incomes (2.2% over November of 2010) relative to the real average income usually earned by employed persons, according to PME; the drop in prices of consumer electronics (-4.0% in 12 months); and the expanded demand for these products, driven by a higher formality in the workplace.

The activity of office, computer and communication equipment and material exerted the third major positive impact on the overall retail rate, by growing 28.8% in relation to November of 2010. In terms of accumulated results, this activity registered the highest growth so far in 2011, with 17.6% in the January-November11/January-November10 comparison and 18.6% in the accumulated index of the last 12 months. Income growth, digital inclusion programs and reduction of prices are the main contributors for that performance.

As for prices, only microcomputers registered a decrease (12.1%) in the accumulated index of 12 months according to IPCA.

The lowest change in terms of volume of sales occurred for fabric, apparel and footwear, with a 0.4% change in November of 2011 in contrast with November of 2010. In terms of accumulated performance, the activity records rates of 4.1% in the January-November11/January-November10 comparison and of 5.0% in the accumulated index of the last 12 months.

The rise in prices of apparel is one of the contributors for the decrease in sales. According to IPCA, while the overall price index accumulated a rate of 6.6% in 12 months, the price index for apparel accumulated a rise of 8.8%.

Volume of sales of the extended retail trade increases by 1.5% in November

The Extended Retail Trade grew 1.5% for the volume of sales and 2.1% for the nominal revenue in November of 2011 against October, in the seasonally adjusted series. That result reverses the negative movement of October, driven by the positive rates of vehicles and motorcycles, parts and accessories. In terms of volume of sales, the sector also records a positive result in relation to November of 2010 (3.2%); with highs of 6.9% in the accumulated index of the year and of 7.7% in the accumulated index of the last 12 months. For the same indicators, the nominal revenue of sales recorded change rates of 5.8%, 9.8% and 10.8%, respectively.

The extended retail trade has been affected by the reduction in the pace of sales of vehicles and motorcycles, parts and accessories, which registers the second consecutive negative change (-2.9%) in November 2011 against November 2010. That behavior is mainly attributable to the government measures of restriction of credit.

The activity registered a rate of 6.9% in the accumulated index of the 11 first months of the year and of 8.4% in the last 12 months.

As for Construction Material, changes were of 6.0% in relation to the same month a year ago, of 9.5% in the accumulated indicator of the year and of 10.0% in the last 12 months.

That performance is due to the increased supply of credit for the housing sector, whose balance grew 46.2% in 12 months up to November, according to Central Bank.