The services sector recorded in Brazil a nominal growth of 8.4% in December 2013 in the comparison with the same month a year ago, lower than the rates of October and November (both with 8.8%). Services rendered to families  changed 9.5%, communication and information services, 7.0%, professional, administrative and complementary services, 6.7%, transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities, 11.5%, and other services, 6.7%. The cumulative nominal growth over the last 12 months of 2013 was 8.5% - the same level of the rates recorded in April.

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

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

In 2013, the segment of transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities had the biggest growth (10.8%), with a highlight to waterways and air transportation, growing 18.0% and 16.8%, respectively. Services rendered to families accumulated a 10.2% high, with housing and food services growing 10.6%. Professional, administrative and complementary services grew 8.1% in 2013, information and communication services, 6.9%, and other services, 5.9%.    

In the comparison with December 2012, services rendered to families registered a change of 9.5%, lower than the taxes seen in October (12.6%) and November (10.1%). In this segment, the highlights are housing and food services (10.3%) and other services rendered to families (4.3%).

Information and communication services grew 7.0%, the same rate as November's, but lower than October's (7.9%). Information and communication technology services (ITC), which encompass telecommunication and information technology services, changed 5.9% and audiovisual, publishing and news agency services grew 13.9%. Information and communication services represented 29.7% in terms of relative contribution in the month, contributing with 2.5 percentage points (p.p.) to the formation of the general index. 

The growth of professional, administrative and complementary services stayed at 6.7% in December, against 7.3% in October and 9.4% in November. Technical professional services, comprising knowledge intensive services, grew 0.4% and administrative complementary services, covering labor intensive services, 9.6%. With a relative contribution of 17.9%, this segment participated with 1.5 p.p. in the overall index.

The segment of transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities grew 11.5% in December, above October's (9.9%) and November's rate (10.2%). The biggest growth rates were registered in waterway (17.3%) and air transportation (11.2%), whereas road transportation grew 8.3%. warehousing services, support activities for transportation and mailing activities changed 16.5%. This segment contributes, in relative terms, with 40.5% and with 3.4 p.p., in absolute terms, to the formation of the overall index.

The segment other services presented a nominal growth of 6.7%.

In December, four states posted negative changes

By areas, there were negative nominal changes in Roraima (-4.9%), Amapá (-4.0%), Sergipe (-3.7%) and Mato Grosso (-1.1%). The lowest positive rates were in Maranhão (1.3%), Bahia (2.4%), Alagoas and Espírito Santo (both with 3.3%). The biggest growth rates were in the Federal District (25.1%), Santa Catarina (12.6%) and Rondônia (12.5%). Goiás (11.4%) and Tocantins (10.7%) also had significant rates.

In relation to the formation of the index of services by Federation Units, São Paulo recorded 52.7% of relative contribution and 4.4 p.p. of absolute contribution, followed by Rio de Janeiro, with 10.3% and 0.9 p.p., and the Federal District, with 7.5% and 0.6 p.p.

In the segment services rendered to families, the highest rates occurred in Pernambuco (22.6%), Ceará (15.2%) and Paraná (12.8%). The lowest positive rates were in Espírito Santo (2.8%), Minas Gerais (3.6%) and Santa Catarina (6.9%). There were records of negative nominal changes in Rio Grande do Sul (-4.5%) and in the Federal District (-1.5%). 

In information and communication services, Goiás posed the highest rate (22.9%), followed by Santa Catarina (11.6%) and the Federal District (11.5%). The lowest positive rates were in Pernambuco (0.2%), Paraná (5.3%) and São Paulo (8.9%). There were negative rates in Bahia (-4.7%), Ceará (-4.1%), Espírito Santo (-3.1%) and Minas Gerais (-1.4%).

In professional, administrative and complementary services, the Federal District registered the biggest growth rate (21.7%), followed by Ceará (14.5%) and São Paulo (13.8%). The lowest negative rates were seen in Bahia (1.8%), Espírito Santo (2.7%) and Minas Gerais (5,0%). There were negative rates in Rio Grande do Sul (-5.4%) and Goiás (-1.0%).

In the segment transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities, the Federal District (48.4%), Santa Catarina (16.5%) and São Paulo (13.8%) had the greatest changes in relation to the same month a year ago. The lowest ones were seen in Ceará and Espírito Santo (both with 2.7%), Goiás (4.5%) and Pernambuco (5.3%).

In the segment other services, the most notable increases were in the Federal District (70.7%), Pernambuco (22.5%) and Paraná (19.1%). The lowest positive rates occurred in Bahia (2.5%), São Paulo (8.7%) and Ceará (9.7%). Rio de Janeiro had a negative change of -13.3%.

Mato Grosso had the highest growth in the revenue from services in 2013

In 2013, Mato Grosso (20.4%), the Federal District (15.7%) and Ceará and Tocantins (both with 13.0%) had the highest growth rates in the cumulative indicator of the year. The lowest rates were seen in Sergipe (3.0%), Piauí (3.4%) and Amapá (4.4%).

 In services rendered to families, the highest cumulative growth rates occurred in Ceará (17.1%), Goiás (14.7%) and São Paulo (12.6%). The Federal District (4.6%), Rio Grande Do Sul (5.8%) and Pernambuco (6.3%) registered the lowest cumulative rates. 

In information and communication services, the Federal District (11.3%), Goiás (10.4%) and Santa Catarina (10.0%) had the biggest growth rates. The lowest cumulative rates were in Minas Gerais (3.3%), Espírito Santo (3.4%) and Bahia (3.8%).

In professional, administrative and complementary services, Ceará posted the greatest growth rate (19.8%), followed by Bahia (15.4%) and the Federal District (15.3%). The lowest negative rates were seen in Paraná (3.7%), Santa Catarina (5.3%) and Goiás (6.0%). Rio Grande do Sul (-6.2%) and Pernambuco (-0.5%) recorded negative cumulative changes.

In the segment transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing activities, the Federal District (16.8%), Santa Catarina (16.0%) and Pernambuco (13.1%) had the greatest growth rates. The lowest rates were in Espírito Santo (5.4%), Minas Gerais (7.1%) and Rio de Janeiro (7.8%).

In the segment other services, the major cumulative growth rates were in the Federal District (45.3%), Goiás (23.3%) and Santa Catarina (12.2%). The lowest positive rates occurred in Paraná (4.1%), Minas Gerais (5.1%) and Pernambuco (5.9%). Rio de Janeiro had a negative cumulative change of -4.8%.