In July, retail trade in the country recorded increase of 1.4% in volume of sales and of 1.7% in nominal revenue, in relation to the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series.  Regarding volume of sales, that is the second positive result after the decrease recorded in May. In terms of nominal trade, the current result represents the fifth consecutive month with a positive rate. The other comparisons, obtained from the original series, that is, without adjustment, volume of sales increased 7.1% over July 2011; 8.8% accumulated in the first seven months of the year and 7.5% accumulated in the last 12 months.  In similar comparisons, nominal revenue changed by 10.3%, 11.8% and 11.3%, respectively.  The complete publication is available at www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/comercio/pmc/.

Among the ten activities surveyed, eight recorded positive changes

In the seasonally-adjusted results of July over the previous month, eight of the ten activities surveyed recorded positive changes in terms of volume of sales. The main highlight, in this case, was the activity of Office, computer and communication material and equipment, with 9.7%, followed by Textiles, apparel and footwear (2.4%); Fuels and lubricants (1.2%); Construction material 1.0%); Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverage and tobacco (0.8%); Furniture and household appliances (0.7%); Other articles of personal and domestic use (0.3%); Pharmaceutical medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (0.3%).  Negative changes occurred in the activities Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery, with -0.7% and in Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces, with -8.9%.

In the comparison of July 2012 with July 2011 (series without adjustment), all the activities surveyed recorded increase of volume of sales. The rates, in decreasing order, were: 16.4% for Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces; 12.5% for Furniture and household appliances; 11.4% for Office, computer and communication material and equipment; 11.3% for Pharmaceutical medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries; 7.3% for Fuels and lubricants; 6.3% for Other articles of personal and domestic use; 6.2% for Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery; 5.5% for Construction material; 5.5% for Textiles, apparel and footwear and 5.0% for Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco.

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with change of 5.0% in the volume of sales of July over of the same month in the previous year, accounted for the biggest contribution to the result of retail trade (33%). Despite being the main influence, this activity had a result below average, due to the performance of food prices, which rose above the overall index in 12 months: 8.2% in the group Meals taken in the household, versus 5.2% of the global inflation, according to IPCA. In terms of accumulated results, changes rates were 8.9% for the index accumulated in the first seven months of the year and 6.8% for that of the last 12 months.

Furniture and household appliances, with increase of 12.5% in terms of volume of sales over July last year, accounted for the second main participation in retail trade (31%).  Considering accumulated results, changes reached 13.9% of the year and 14.2% in 12 months. The result of this activity can be explained by the government incentive policies towards consumption, based on the reduction of IPI tax and white appliances, besides the maintenance of credit and the stability of employment, as well as the prices of household appliances (-6.7% in the last 12 months, for Electronic Appliances in IBGE’s IPCA).

Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries, with 11.3% of increase in volume of sales over July 2011, accounted for the third major impact on the formation of retail trade results.  With increases of about 11.0% accumulated in the year and 10.0% accumulated in the last 12 months, the segment keeps all comparisons of results above the overall rate. The main factors contributing to this were the offer of credit and the relevance of products in this group.

Fuels and lubricants, with change of 7.3% in volume of sales in relation to July 2011, accounted for the four major impact on the overall result of retail trade. In terms of accumulated results, change rates were 5.1% ad 3.0% for the first seven months of the year and for the last 12 months, respectively. These results have as their main objective the reduction of fuel prices, which recorded change of -1.8% in the last 12 months, according to IPCA.

Other articles of personal and domestic use, which encompasses segments such as department stores, glasses’ shops, jewelry shops, sporting good stores, toy stores, etc, recorded increase of 6.3% in volume of sales over July 2011, accounting, this way, for the fifth biggest impact on the formation of retail rate. In terms of accumulated indexes, the changes were 7.3% in the first year and of 4.8% in the  last 12 months.  

Extended retail trade fell by 1.5% in July

Extended retail trade, which includes retail trade and the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, recorded, in relation to the previous month, change of 1.5% in volume of sales and of -1.0% in nominal revenue, both with seasonal adjustments. In the comparison with the same month in the previous year (without seasonal adjustment), the changes were 10.2% for volume of sales and 10.4% for nominal revenue. In terms of indexes accumulated in the year and in the last 12 months, the sector recorded change rates of 7.5% and 5.9% for volume and 8.8% and 7.9% for nominal revenue of sales, respectively.

With reference to volume of sales, the activity Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces recorded increase of 16.4% over the figure of July 2011, having accumulated, in the first seven months of the year and in the last twelve months, changes of 5.0% and 2.9%, respectively.  The fall of prices due to the reduction of IPI for the purchase of new cars justifies these changes. As for Construction material, the increase of volume of sales was 5.5% in the comparison between July 2012 and the same month in the previous year, resulting in accumulation of 8.7% in the first seven months of the year and of 7.6% in the last 12 months. It is worth mentioning that the fiscal incentive of the government through the reduction of the IPI tax still affects the performance of this segment.

Results were positive in all the states when compared to July 2011 figures

All the Federation Units presented positive results in terms of volume of sales in the comparison between July 2012 and July 2011. The highlights in terms of increase rate were:  Roraima (28.8%); Acre (17.6%); Amapá (17.5%); Mato Grosso do Sul (15.0%) and Maranhão (12.1%). Concerning participation in the retail trade rate, the highlight, in order, were: São Paulo (8.5%); Minas Gerais (7.2%); Rio de Janeiro (4.4%); Paraná (7.1%) and Bahia (8.7%).

Extended retail trade, which also recorded positive changes in all the state in the same period of comparison, the highest performance rates, regarding volume of sales, occurred in Roraima (23.3%); Mato Grosso (20.5%); Acre (20.4%); Tocantins (19.7%) and Alagoas (17.9%). In terms of impact on the overall result of the sector, the highlights were the states of São Paulo (12.2%); Rio Grande do Sul (10.0%); Rio de Janeiro (6.7%); Paraná (9.5%) and Minas Gerais (6.1%).

Also by Federation Units, seasonally adjusted results over the previous year with seasonal adjustment, for volume of sales, were positive in 18 of the 27 states. The main highlights were the rates of Rio Grande do Norte (3.0%); São Paulo (2.9%); Ceará (1.8%); Piauí (1.6%) and Maranhão (1.6%).