The services sector in Brazil recorded a nominal growth of 8.8% in October 2013, in the comparison with the same month a year ago. This result was lower than that of September (9.7% reviewed) and above August's rate (6.6%). Services rendered to families changed 12.6%, Information and communication services, 7.9%, Professional, administrative and complementary services, 7.2%, Transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities, 9.9% and Other services, 9.7%. The analysis of the series over the last 12 months (November/2012 to October/2013) reveals that the growth rate of October stayed at the same level of the rates of November/2012 and December/2012 (both with 8.7%) and June/2013 (8.8%). However, they were below the rates recorded in April/2013 (11.6%), January/2013 and September/2013 (both with 9.7%) and July/2013 (9.1%). The cumulative nominal growth over the year stayed at 8.5% and the cumulative result over 12 months, at 8.5%.

The Monthly Survey of Services (PMS) is the first monthly short-term indicator investigating the services sector in the country. It encompasses the non-financial business segment, except for the sectors of health, education, public management and imputed rent (value owners would earn in case they rented the properties where they live in). The complete publication can be accessed on

www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/servicos/pms.

The cumulative results over the year indicate that, in the 10 months of 2013, the nominal growth in relation to the same period of 2012 was at 8.5%. Within this period Transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities had the biggest growth (10.8%), with a highlight to Waterway and air transportation, growing 18.4% and 18.2%, respectively. Services rendered to families recorded the second highest cumulative growth, with 10.2%, and Housing and food services grew 10.8%. Professional, administrative and complementary services registered a cumulative growth of 8.2%, Information and communication services, 6.9% and Other services, 5.5%.

The segment of Services rendered to families posted in Brazil a change of 12.6% in October over the same month a year ago, above the rates seen in September (9.5%) and August (11.6%). In this segment, the highlights are Housing and food services growing 11.5% and Other services rendered to families, changing 19.5%.

Information and communication services recorded growth of 7.9%, the same level seen in September (8.0%) and above August's rate (4.8%). Information and communication technology services - ICT, which comprise telecommunication and information technology services, recorded a change of 7.6% and audiovisual, publishing and news agency services registered a growth of 9.7%. The segment of Information and communication services represented 30.7% in terms of relative participation contributing with 2.7 percentage points (pp) to the composition of the overall index.

The growth of the Professional, administrative and complementary services stayed at 7.2% in October in comparison with the same month last year, against 9.6% in September and 6.3% in August. Technical professional services, which encompass knowledge-intensive services, grew 3.5% and Administrative and complementary services, which includes labor-intensive services, 8.6%. With a relative participation of 17.0%, this segment contributed, in absolute terms, with 1.5 pp to the general index.

The segment of Transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities recorded a nominal growth of 9.9% in October, in the comparison with the same month a year ago - below September's rate (12.2%) and above August's (8.2%). Analyzing rates by modality, data reveal that the highest growth rates were registered in Waterway transportation (27.1%) and in Air transportation (21.3%). Road transportation posted a growth of 8.6% and the Storage services and support activities for transportation and mailing activities changed 6.4%. This segment contributes, in relative terms, with 36.4% and with 3.2 pp, in absolute terms, to the formation of the overall index.

The segment Other services presented a nominal growth of 9.7%.

In October all Federation Units posted positive changes

Concerning the areas, in October, all Federation Units presented positive nominal changes in relation to the same period in 2012; the highest rates were seen in the Federal District (16.6%), Alagoas, Mato Grosso and Santa Catarina (around 14.0%) and Tocantins (13.5%). Roraima recorded the lowest change (1.6%), followed by Piauí (3.2%) and Rio Grande do Norte (3.8%).

Analyzing the relative and absolute composition of the index of services by Federation Units, the highlights are São Paulo, with 51.2% of relative contribution and 4.5 pp of absolute contribution, followed by Rio de Janeiro, with 11.4% and 1.0 pp and Minas Gerais, 5.7% and 0.5 pp.

In the segment of Services rendered to families, among the selected Federation Units, the highlights are Ceará (23.6%), Goiás (17.6%), and Rio Grande do Sul and Rio de Janeiro (near 15.0%), with the highest growth rates. The lowest rates were registered in the Federal District (0.3%), Pernambuco (5.8%) and Paraná (10.8%).

In the segment Information and communication services, Goiás stands out with the greatest growth (12.1%), followed by Santa Catarina (10.1%) and Ceará (9.5%). The lowest rates were seen in Bahia (2.8%), Espírito Santo (4.2%) and Rio Grande do Sul (4.5%).

In regard to the segment of Professional, administrative and complementary services, the Federal District stood out with the biggest growth rate (21.9%), followed by Santa Catarina (12.3%) and São Paulo and Espírito Santo (both with 9.4%). The lowest positive changes were recorded in Goiás (0.1%), Pernambuco (1.5%) and Rio de Janeiro (4.4%). Rio Grande do Sul registered a negative nominal change (-7.6%).

In the segment Transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities, the highlights among the selected Federation Units are: the Federal District (20.6%), Santa Catarina (18.6%) and São Paulo (12.0%) with the greatest changes in relation to the same month a year ago. The lowest changes were seen in Bahia (2.4%), Espírito Santo and Paraná (both with 3.8%) and Minas Gerais and Ceará (around 4.7%).

In the segment Other services, the highest growth was observed in Goiás (54.7%), the Federal District (54.0%) and Rio Grande do Sul (17.4%). The lowest positive rates were registered in Paraná (1.0%), Minas Gerais (8.2%) and Bahia (8.4%). Rio de Janeiro recorded a negative nominal change (-7.0%).