In February 2021, the volume of sales of the national retail trade increased 0.6%, compared to January, in the seasonally adjusted series, after a variation of -0.2% in January. The quarterly moving average decreased 2.0%, 0.1 p.p. over the quarter ended in January (-2.1%). In the non-adjusted series, retail trade fell by 3.8% compared to January 2020, accumulating in the year a decrease of 2.1%. The cumulative index in the last 12 months was 0.4%, keeping the pace of decline for the fourth consecutive month. In January, this indicator was 1.0% .

In the extended retail trade, which includes motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and construction material, the volume of sales advanced 4.1% over January, in the first positive change after two decreases in a row. As a result, the pace of decline of the quarterly moving average (-0.5%) over the quarter ended in January (-1.6%).

Four out of the eight activities had positive ratesin the seasonally adhusted series

The 0.6% increase in retail sales volume, in February 2021, in the seasonally adjusted series, had positive rates in four of the eight activities surveyed: Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (15.4%), Furniture and household appliances (9.3%), Fabrics, clothing and footwear (7.8%) and Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.8%).

On the other hand, there were decreases in the sectors of Other personal and household articles  (-0.5%), Fuels and lubricants (-0.4%), Office and computer equipment and material (-0.4%) ) and Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (-0.2%).

In the extended retail trade, the 4.1% growth in sales volume in February, in the seasonally adjusted series, was positively influenced by Motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (8.8%) e and Construction materials (2.0%). 

Five of the eight activities of retail shrank over February 2020 

In comparison with February 2020, retail fell by 3.8%, with negative rates in five of the eight activities. With greater impact (-2.2 pp), the Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco decreased 4.6% compared to February 2020, reversing the movement of the previous two months. In the first two months of 2021, the segment fell 0.6% compared to the same two months of 2020. In the cumulative result of the last 12 months, registering 4.5%, the sector slowed down again, after three months of increases.

Fabric, apparel and footwear fell by 18.6%, registering 12 consecutive months of negative rates in the interannual comparison. The sector was the second in terms of influence, with an impact of -1.3 pp on the overall rate. The cumulative index in the first two months of the year was -19.9%. The cumulative index in the last 12 months, from -24.2% until January to -25.4% in February, shows an intensification in the pace of decline.

The Fuels and lubricants segment showed a 10.4% decrease in sales volume in relation to February 2020, the twelfth consecutive month of decline. As a result, both the first two months of 2021 and the cumulative index in the last 12 months remained negative: -9.1% and -11.1%, respectively.

The volume of sales in the activity of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery decreased by 41.0%, accounting for 13 months of consecutive declines. The segment, therefore, continues to show  retraction, as registered in recent years, due to a reduction in physical stores, which started in 2017. As a result, in the comparison with the first two months of last year, the sector's loss was 48.1%. The cumulative index in the last twelve months, from -38.5% up to January to -42.3% up to February, has remained negative since March 2014 (-0.2%).

Office, computer and communication equipment and material decreased for the fourteenth consecutive month, registering a 10.8% decrease in relation to February 2020. The cumulative index over the year for the activity was -12.2%. The cumulative indicator in the last twelve months also showed a negative performance (-16.6%), at the same level as the previous month, for this comparison: -16.7%.

On the other hand, the activity of Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and perfumery, with an increase of 8.9% in sales, registered the ninth consecutive positive change, which places it as the greatest positive influence for the month (0.9 pp). In the first two months of the year, the segment accumulated a change of 10.9% compared to the same period in 2020. Thecumulative result in the last 12 months (8.9%) up to February reflects stability compared to the result up to January (8.8%) .

Other personal and household articles, which include department stores, opticians, jewelers, sporting goods, toys sotes, etc., with a 2.0% expansion in sales volume compared to February 2020, showed a loss of pace in relation to January ( 9.8%). As a result, the sector accumulated 6.2% in the year, compared to the same period in 2020. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months was 2.2% below that registered in January (2.7%).

The Furniture and household appliances segment grew 0.7% in sales volume, after falling 5.2% in January. Thus, the sector accrued -2.5% in the two-month period. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, going from 9.1% until January to 8.2% in February, remains on downward trend since November 2020 (12.3%).

In the extended retail trade, the sector of
Motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces fell 3.8% in relation to February 2020, registering the second negative rate in a row. For the extended retail, the sector represented the second biggest influence on the interannual indicator (-0.9 pp of the total of -1.9%). With this, the sector accumulated -10.1% in the first two months, showing in the indicator of the last 12 months (-15.9%) a loss of increasing rhythm since March 2020, month in which the pandemic period in Brazil begins.

With a growth of 17.9%, the Construction material segment completes a sequence of nine months of consecutive growth. In the cumulative result for the year, the rate was 14.3%. As a result, the indicator for the last twelve months, from 11.5% in January to 13.0% in February, accelerated, as it has done since June 2020.

Sales grow in 19 Federation Units in comparison with January

From January to February 2021, in the seasonally adjusted series, the national average sales rate of the retail trade grew 0.6%, with a predominance of positive results in 19 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight to Amazonas (14.2% ), Rondônia (11.5%) and Piauí (8.3%). On the other hand, with a negative influence, there are eight FUs, the main ones being, in terms of magnitude, Acre (-12.9%), Tocantins (-4.4%) and Distrito Federal (-2.1%).

In the same comparison, the extended retail trade advanced 4.1%, driven by 22 FUs, the sharpest ones being recorded in Amazonas (20.2%), Rondônia (9.9%) and in Piauí (9.5%). Exerting negative pressure are five Federation Units, mainly Acre (-5.3%), Tocantins (-2.1%) and Amapá (-1.6%).

Compared to February 2020, the retail trade sales fell 3.8%, with a predominance of negative results, which reached 18 FUs, mainly Rio de Janeiro (-8.5%), Rio Grande do Sul (-12.0% ) and São Paulo (-1.8%). Exering a positive pressure, however, are nine UFs, mainly Piauí (14.1%), Pará (4.1%) and Pernambuco (2.0%).

In the extended retail trade, compared to January 2020, there were falls in 14 Federation Units. The highlights in the negative realm were São Paulo (-2.9%), Rio de Janeiro (-7.3%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-9.0%). Of the 13 FUs that registered positive changes, Pernambuco (9.5%), Minas Gerais (2.7%) and Espírito Santo (8.2%) stand out.