In February, the national retail trade recorded a change of –0.4% for the volume of sales and of 0.6% for the nominal revenue, both rates in relation to the previous month (seasonally adjusted). For the volume of sales, such a result represents the first negative change of the year. For the nominal revenue, on its turn, it means the ninth consecutive month of growth. In terms of change of the moving average, for the volume of sales, it was -0.12%, whereas the revenue posted a rate of 0,73%. In the other comparisons, obtained from the unadjusted original series, the national retail trade recorded, as to the volume of sales, increases of -0.2% over February of the previous year, 2.9% in the cumulative index of the two months and of 7.4% in the cumulative index over the last 12 months. For the same indicators, the nominal revenue of sales recorded change rates of 7.6%, 10.1% and 11.8%, respectively. The complete publication of the survey can be accessed at www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/comercio/pmc/.

Four out of 10 activities recorded positive changes

In February, four of the ten surveyed activities registered positive results for the volume of sales, seasonally adjusted (month indicator/month). The results, in a decreasing order, were: Office, computer and communication equipment and material (5.2%); Pharmaceutical, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (2.4%); Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (0.7%); Construction material  (0.7%);  Furniture and household appliances (-0.2%); Hypermarkets, supermarket, food products, beverages and tobacco  (-1.0%); Fabric, apparel and footwear  (-1.1%); Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces  (-1.7%); Fuels and lubricants  (-2.1%) and Other articles of personal and household use (-2.9%).

In relation to February 2013 against February 2012 (adjusted series), four out of eight retail activities had negative results in the volume of sales. The results, by order of importance in relation to the overall result, were: -2.1% for Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco; -1.0% for Furniture and household appliances; -1.0% for Fuels and lubricants; -1.0% for Fabric, apparel and footwear ; 5,3% for Office, computer and communication material and equipment; 6,9% for Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery ; 6,9% for  Pharmaceutical, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics; 6,3% for Other articles of personal and household use.

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with a change of -2.1% in the volume of sales over February 2012, was the main contributor the overall retail rate.  For this segment, in this comparison basis, there has not been a negative change since March 2009. The explanation for this fact is a strong base effect, since February 2012 the change reached 13.3% due to the rise in the minimum wages (14.13%). Moreover, in the beginning of this year, the prices in the activity posted rises much higher than the average. In the cumulative indexes, the rate for the first two months of the year was 0.6%, and for the last 12 months, 6.8%.

Furniture and household appliances, with a change of -1.0% in the volume of sales in relation to February last year, registered the second highest impact in the formation of the retail rate.  It is the first drop in the segment after June 2009. The price increases in the sector, resulting from the current government policy of gradual reposition of the IPI tax rate, could be the reason for this. The cumulative rate in the two months was of 2.7% and in the last 12 months, 10.4%.

Fuels and lubricants, with a change of -1.0% in the volume of sales in relation to February 2012, accounted for the third highest contribution to the overall retail rate. In the cumulative index, the change rates reached 4.0% in the year and 7.2% in the last 12 months.

Fabric, apparel and footwear,   the fourth largest negative influence on the total retail rate, registered a -1.0% decrease in the volume of sales over February 2012, and a cumulative rate in the year and over the last 12 months of 2.3% and 3.9%, respectively. 

Office, computer and communication material and equipment, the fifth greater impact in the formation of the total retail rate, posted a rise in the volume of sales of 5,3% over February 2012, a cumulative rate of 7.0% and  3.9% over the last 12 months. Among the determining factors are the price reduction of the products in the activity (computer with a fall of -1.1% in 12 months – IPCA) and the rise in the payroll.

Extended retail shrinks 0.7% in February

The extended retail trade, comprising the retail trade plus the activities of Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, recorded, in relation to the previous month, a change of -0.7% for the volume of sales and a rise of 0.5% for the nominal revenue -both rates seasonally adjusted. Compared with the same month a year ago (seasonally unadjusted), the changes were of 1.2% for the volume of sales and of 5.5% for the nominal revenue. In the cumulative indicators in the year and in the last 12 months, the sector presented change rates of 4.2% and 7.8% for the volume and 7.9% and 9.4% for the nominal revenue of sales, respectively.

As to the volume of sales, vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces recorded a decrease of -1.7% in relation to January. This is the second month in a row of negative results in this kind of comparison. The reason for the fall was the price of cars, due to the reduced stock with IPI tax reduction. Comparing to February of 2012, the change was 3.2%, accumulating in the year and in the last 12 months changes of 5.7% and of 8.4%, respectively. The activity construction material recorded a change of 0.7% for the volume of sales in relation to January. When compared to February of 2012, the volume of sales changed by 4.4%. In the year, the change was of 7.8% and it reached 7.4% considering the last 12 months. 

Results were positive in 16 states in comparison with February 2012

Out of the 27 Federation Units, 16 marked positive results in the comparison between February 2013 and February 2012, concerning the volume of sales. The highlights were: Mato Grosso do Sul (10.3%); Rondônia (7.2%); Acre (4.7%); Rio Grande do Norte (3.8%); and Mato Grosso (3.0%). As to contribution to the formation of the retail trade rate, the highlights were, by order of importance: Mato Grosso do Sul (10.3%); Rio Grande do Sul (1.4%); Rio de Janeiro (0.7%); Mato Grosso (3.0%) and Pernambuco (1.7%).

In relation to the extended retail, 19 Federation Units had positive changes. The highest rates of performance in the volume of sales occurred in Acre (11.7%); Mato Grosso do Sul (9.2%); Roraima (8.6%); Amapá (7.2%) and Rio Grande do Norte (6.1%). In terms of impact on the sector’s t result, the highlights were São Paulo (1.8%); Paraná (5.6%); Rio Grande do Sul (3.4%); Goiás (5.6%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (9.2%).

Concerning the Federation Units, the seasonally adjusted results for the volume of sales point out to 18 states with positive results month-on-month. The highest changes were in Rondônia (1.7%); Amapá (1.5%); Piauí (1.3%); Rio de Janeiro (1.0%) and Roraima (1.0%). The sharpest drops were seen in: Bahia (-3.8%); Mato Grosso (-2.7%); Paraná (-2.1%) and Paraíba (-1.6%).