In the seasonally-adjusted series, the retail sales changed 0.1% in October 2019 compared with the previous month. This was the sixth consecutive month of growth, with an increase of 2.7% in the period After rising 0.6% in the quarter ended in September, the index of the quarterly moving average lost pace in the quarter ended in October (0.4%).

In the seasonally-unadjusted series, the retail trade grew 4.2%, being the seventh positive rate in a row. With this result, the retail accrued 1.6% between January and October against the same period in 2018. Having changed from 1.6% in September to 1.8% in October, the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months pointed out to a gain in the pace of sales.

In the extended retail, which also includes the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, and Construction material, volume of sales grew 0.8% in relation to September 2019, the eighth consecutive expansion and accruing 5.2% in the period. As a result, the moving average of the quarter ended in October (0.7%) maintained the pace of sales of the previous moving quarter (0.7%).

Compared with October 2018, the extended retail trade advanced 5.6%, being the seventh positive rate in a row. The cumulative indicator between January and October 2019 increased 3.8%, whereas the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months remained stable when advancing 3.8% until October.

Six of eight activities surveyed grew in October

Six out of the eight activities surveyed by the PMC recorded positive figures in October: They were: Office, computer and communication material and equipment (5.3%), fuels and lubricants (1.7%), pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (1.2%), furniture and household appliances (0.9%), other articles of personal and domestic use (0.3%) and fabric, apparel and footwear (0.2%). After advancing 4.0% between May and September, the sector of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco remained close to the stability (-0.1%), contributing to the change of 0.1% in volume of sales of the retail trade. In the same comparison, the segment of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery retreated 1.1%.

In the seasonally-adjusted series, volume of sales of the extended retail trade rose 0.8% in October against September 2019, mainly reflecting the increase in the sales of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (2.4%) and of Construction material (2.1%), both of them after significant advances registered in the previous month, 1.2% and 1.8%, respectively.

Compared with October 2018, the retail trade increased 4.2%, with positive rates hitting seven out of the eight activities surveyed. Among the activities that rose, the highlights were Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (2.6%), sector with the highest weight, Other articles of personal and domestic use (8.3%), Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (7.3%) and Furniture and household appliances (8.0%).

These activities also registered positive rates in relation to October 2018: Fuels and lubricants (2.9%), Fabric, apparel and footwear (2.5%) and Office, computer and communication material and equipment (4.9%). The segment of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-13.3%) was the only one to drop in this comparison.

Compared with October 2018, the extended retail trade recorded the seventh positive rate, with the contribution of the performance of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (9.2%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (2.6%), Other articles of personal and domestic use (8.3%) and Construction material (6.5%).

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (2.6%) registered the fifth consecutive positive rate compared with October 2018, exerting the biggest positive contribution to the overall retail trade rate. The advance of the usual real wage bill has been contributing to the positive performance of this activity. The result of the cumulative index between January and October advanced 0.6% compared with the same period a year ago. Having increased 0.9% in October, the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months remained virtually stable in relation to September (0.8%).

The segment of Other articles of personal and domestic use (8.3%), which includes department stores, glasses shops, jewelry shops, sporting goods stores and toy stores, grew for the fourth consecutive month and answered for the second biggest positive contribution to the overall retail rate. As a result, the cumulative indicator for the first ten months of the year advanced 5.6%, compared with the same period last year. The cumulative index over the last 12 months (6.3%) remained stable in relation to September (6.3%).

The activity of Pharmaceutical, medical and orthopedic goods and toiletries (7.3%) exerted the third biggest contribution to the global retail rate. With this result, the cumulative indicator in the year until October advanced 6.5% against the same period in 2018. Having recorded 6.6% in October, the cumulative rate over the last 12 months remained stable.

The segment of Furniture and household appliances (8.0%) maintained the pace recorded in September (8.2%) and also accounted for the third biggest positive impact on the overall retail rate of October 2019. The reduction in the interest rate for physical persons and the increase in the granting of credit contributed to the positive performance of this sector. Having changed from 0.8% until September to 1.5% until October, the cumulative indicator in the year confirms the recovery reported in this sector. As a result, the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months gained dynamism when leaving the stability reported until September (0.0%) to a growth of 0.8% in October.

After two consecutive retreats, the sector of Fuels and lubricants (2.9%) rose once again. The reduction in the prices of the group of fuels has been contributing for the performance of this sector. The cumulative rate for the first ten months of the year changed 0.8%, compared with the same period a year ago. The annualized indicator, cumulative index over the last 12 months (0.4%), moved to the positive side after 55 negative rates in a row.

After two consecutive months of retreat in this comparison, the activity of Fabric, apparel and footwear (2.5%) registered a positive rate once again. As a result, the cumulative indicator in the year (0.0%) remained stable in October in relation to the same period in 2018. Having changed from 0.5% in September to 0.3% in October, the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months maintained the downward trend started in July 2019 (1.3%).

The segment of Office, computer and communication material and equipment (4.9%) changed -0.1% in the cumulative indicator between January and October. The cumulative indicator over the last 12 months (-0.1%) reduced the pace of drop in relation to September (-0.3%).

The activity of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-13.3%) completed a series of 27 consecutive negative rates, recording the smallest magnitude of drop since July 2018 (-10.4%). The cumulative indicator in the year (-23.6%) remained on the negative side since February 2014 (-4.8%). Having changed from -25.0% to -24.5%, the cumulative index over the last 12 months remained negative since March 2014 (-0.2%).

The sector of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (9.2%) recorded the seventh consecutive positive rate and exerted the major positive contribution to the extended retail. The cumulative indicator between January and October posted a two-digit change rate (10.5%). Having risen 10.4% up to October, the cumulative index over the last 12 months lost pace in relation to the cumulative rate up to September (11.2%).

The segment of Construction material (6.5%) registered the second consecutive positive rate in this comparison. The cumulative indicator for the ten first months of the year increased 4.2% in relation to the same period last year, whereas the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months remained stable when recording a rate of 3.5% in October.

Sales advance in 18 of 27 Federation Units

In the seasonally-adjusted series, the retail recorded positive results in 18 out of the 27 Federation Units compared with October 2018, highlighted by Amapá (2.4%), Paraíba (1.9%) and Piauí (1.7%). Pressed negatively, the highlight on the other side was Minas Gerais (-5.2%).

Having changed 0.8%, the extended retail trade also posted a predominance of positive figures in this same comparison, reaching 21 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted by Alagoas (3.1%), Ceará (2.8%) and Espírito Santo (2.2%). Pressing negatively, the highlights on the other side were Tocantins (-1.5%), Minas Gerais (-1.3%) and Goiás (-0.8%).

Compared with October 2018, the change rate of volume of sales of the national retail trade was of 4.2%, with positive figure prevailing in 22 out of the 27 Federation Units, com highlighted by Amapá (22.6%), Santa Catarina (12.3%) and Amazonas (12.1%), while Piauí remained stable (0.0%).

Pressing negatively, four out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted by Rondônia (-2.5%), and Rio Grande do Sul (-2.1%). Concerning the share in the composition of the retail trade, the biggest contribution came from São Paulo (6.0%), Santa Catarina (12.3%) and Minas Gerais (3.1%).

Considering the extended retail trade, the increase of 5.6% over October 2018 had positive figures prevailing in 25 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted by: Amapá (29.7%), Santa Catarina (12.5%) and the Federal District (9.9%). On the other hand, only Piauí (-0.4%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-0.1%) pressed negatively. Concerning the share in the composition of the extended retail trade, the biggest contribution came from São Paulo (7.3%), Santa Catarina (12.5%) and Minas Gerais (4.6%).