In the seasonally-adjusted series, the volume of retail trade sales changed by 0.1% from March, in the seasonally-adjusteed series. For the fourth month in a row, this indicator did not record any negative changes. The quarterly moving average changed by 0.3%.

In the series without seasonal adjustment, retail trade grew by 0.5% against April 2022, the ninth consecutive positive rate. The cumulative index in the year reached 1.9% and the cumulative index in the last 12 months 0.9%.

In the extended retail trade, which includes vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and construction material, volume of sales dropped 1.6%. The quarterly moving average stood at 1.3%. In the seasonally adjuested series, retail trade grew by 3.1%, cumulative in the year an increase of 3.3% against the same period in 2022, being stable (0.0) regarding the cumulative result in 12 months.

In April, the Brazilian retail trade, on the margin, remained stable (0.1%) from March, with four consecutive months without negative changes: 3.8% in January, 0.0% in February, 0.8% in March and 0.1% in April. As a result, the level of the seasonally-adjusted time series was 4.7% above the minimum level, of December 2022.

Five of eight activities retreated in the seasonally-adjusted series

Five of the eight activities recorded negative rates, in the seasonally adjusted series  Office, computer and communication equipment and material (-7.2%), Textiles, apparel and footwear (-3.7%), Fuels and lubricants (–1.9%) Other personal and domestic articles (-1.4%)  and Furniture and household appliances (-0.5%).

On the other hand, between March and April, there were positive rates in three of the eight groups surveyed. Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (0.3%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (1.0%) and Hyper and supermarket, food products, beverages and tobacco (3.2%).

In extended retail trade, Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and accessories fell by 5.9%, whereas Construction material dropped 0.8% from March to April 2023.

Five of eight retail activities recorded negative rates against April 2022

Against April 2022, retail trade had negative rates in increased in five of the eight activities surveyed: Other articles of personal and domestic use (-18.0%), Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (11.0%), Office, computer and communication equipment and material (-5.8%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-5.7%) and Furniture and household appliances (-2.4%). That completed four activities in trade, with three advances: Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles and toiletries (3.0%) , Hypermarket, supermarket, food, beverages and tobacco (3.1%) and Fuels and lubricants (8.7%).

In extended retail trade, Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces decreased by 1.9% and Construction material fell by 7.6% between April 2022 and April 2023. Wholesale sales of food products, beverages and tobacco increased by 14.5% in relation to April 2022.

The activity of Other articles of personal and domestic use, which encompasses department, optical, jewelry, sports and toy stores among others, registered the twelfth drop in the inter-annual indicator: in April 2023 the result was -18.0% against the same month in 2022. In the year, the result is negative in 12.4% up to April for the sector, the most significant increase than that in March (-10.8%). In the last twelve months, the loss was also more significant: from -10.8% up to March to -12.2% up to April.

Volume of sales of the activity of Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear dropped 11.0% from April 2022, third consecutive negative result. As a result, the activity recorded the second most significant decrease, in the interannual indicator, among the eight activities of retail trade. In the year, the sector had a cumulative decrease of 6.5% against the same period in 2022. The cumulative index in 12 months went from -5.2% up to March to -7.8% in April, intensifying the pace of decrease. 

The group of Office, computer and communication equipment and material recorded a decrease of 5.8% in sales from April 2022 against an increase of 4.2% in March 2023 from March 2022. In the year, the sector keeps recording rates of increase, but with a reduction in intensity: 5.9% up to February, 5.2% up to March and 2.5% up to April. Additionally, in terms of cumulative result in the last twelve months, having changed from 2.9% up to March to 2.5% in April, the sector also shows a reduction in the pace of increase.

The group Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery fell by 5.7% from April 2022, third consecutive negative result (after -9.4% in February and -8.0% in March). April was the first month in the year with a negative result (-0.3%). In the last 12 months, however, the activity has recorded increases for the last 15 editions: 6.7% up to April 2023, with the last month recording decreases (-4.0%) being January 2022.

The sector of Furniture and household appliances recorded a decrease of 2.4% in sales against April 2022, and recorded a negative result once more against the same month in the previous year, since March had an increase of 2.7%. In the last 13 months, the interannual comparison had nine negative results and four positive ones. The cumulative index in the year ent from 2.3% up to March to 1.1% in April, with a drop in the pace of decreases.

Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles and toiletries increased for the second month in a row, considering the interannual indicators, in sales from April 2022 (7.1% in March), after two months recording decreases (-7.6% in January and -0.7% in February). As for the cumulative result in the year, in April (0.4%) there was a reversal, since up to March the sector had had cumulative losses (-7.6% up to January, -4.3% up to February and -0.4% up to March). Considering the cumulative index in 12 months, there is stability in gain: 4.0% both up to March and up to April.

The sales of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco , increased by 3.1% from April 2022, nonth consecutive positive monthly result (-0.3% was the last non-positive change, in July 2022). In the year, the sector had a cumulative increase of 2.7% up to April, the same level as in March (2.6%). The same is true for the cumulative index in the last twelve months: from 2.2% until March to 2.1% until April.

Volume of sales of Fuels and lubricants increased by 8.7% from April 2022, against an increase of 14.3% in March 2023. The nominal revenue of the sector recorded a decrease of 19.3%. The cumulative index in the year was 20.0% up to March to 17.0% in April, with a decrease in the pace of decrease of sales. The cumulative index in the last 12 months kept the same level of increase: 21% up to March versus 20.8% up to April.

Volume of sales of Fuels and lubricants increased by 8.7% from April 2022, against an increase of 14.3% in March 2023. The nominal revenue of the sector recorded a decrease of 19.3%. The cumulative index in the year was 20.0% up to March to 17.0% in April, with a decrease in the pace of decrease of sales. The cumulative index in the last 12 months kept the same level of increase: 21% up to March versus 20.8% up to April.

The sales of Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces, which forms extended retail trade, fell by 1.9% from April, first decrease after the hike of 10.8% in March. The sector has recorded positive and negative results along 2023, since the figures in January and February were 4.7% and -1.3%, respectively. Considering the cumulative index in the year up to April, with a change from 5.1% in March to 3.3% in the month of reference, the activity recorded decrease in pace. As for the last 12 months, the result is negative and the same for the last two surveys: -1.4% both up to March and up to April.

Similarly to the car sector, Construction material recorded a decrease in sales against April 2022 (-7.6%), third consecutive decrease and twentieth decrease in the last 22 months. The other indicators also dropped in this activity. Having changed from -3.3% up to March to -4.3% up to the reference month, in terms ofthe cumulative index the activity showed an increase in the pace of decrease. In the last 12 months, the level of losses remains: -8.4% up to March to -8.3% up to April.

Also forming extended retail, Wholesame of food products, beverages and tobacco had its second positive rate in a row, 5.4% in March and 14.5% in April 2023. Previously, the sector had recorded two negative rates, -0.3% in January and -9.2% in February 2023. In the year, with the start of April, the activity starts to record increases for the first time: -0.3% in January, -5.1% in February, -0.7% in March and 3.1% up to April.

Retail trade increases by 1.9% in the quarter ended April

In the two-month period ended April agains the same two-month period in 2022, retail trade recorded an increase of 1.9.%, fourth consecutive positive rate (3.0% in the fifth two-month period in 2022, 0.9% in the sixth two-month period and 2.0% in the first two months of 2023). Four activities follow the increase of the global indicator and close the two-month period with positive results. Fuels and lubricants (11.5%), Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (5.1%), Hyper and supermarket, food products, beverages and tobacco (3.8%) and Furniture and household appliances (0.2%).

On the other hand, four activities closed this period with negative rates. Office, computer and communication equipment and material (-0.4%) and Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-7.0%), Textiles, apparel and footwear (-9.2%) and Other personal and domestic articles (-15.2%).

In extended retail, the result for the second two-month period of 2023 was 6.0%, which is the second with negative result (0.3% in the first two months of 2023). In terms of sectors, also for retail trade, Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces increased by 4.7%; Construction material closed the period with a decrease of 6.2% and Wholesale trade of food products, beverages and tobacco recorded an increase of 9.5%.

Sales increase in 16 Federation Units against March

In April, in the seasonally adjusted series, retail trade changed by 0.1%, with positive results in 16 of the 27 Federation Units, mainly in Paraíba (3.6%), Pernambuco (2.3%) and the Federal District (2.0%). On the other hand, there were negative results in 11 Federation Units, with highlight to Espírito Santo (-4.3%), Amapá (-1.2%) and Paraná (-1.1%).

In the same comparison, extended retail trade recored negative results in 17 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight to Mato Grosso do Sul (-7.3%), Rondônia (-5.1%) and Paraná (-5.1%). On the other hand, accounting for positive contributions were 10 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight to Bahia (4.8%), Minas Gerais (4.0%) and Maranhão (3.5%).

Sales rise in 17 of the 27 Federation Units in the annual comparison

Against April 2022, national retail trade advanced 0.5%, with negative figures in 17 of the 27 FUs, among which Tocantins (12.2%), Roraima (10.7%) and Alagoas (8.7%) stood out. On the other hand, 10 of the 27 Federation Units recorded increases, mainly: Rio Grande do Norte (-7.1%), Rio Grande do Sul (-2.4%) and Goiás (-2.3%).

As for extended retail trade, the change between April 2023 and April 2022 showed an increase of 3.1%, with positive results in 19 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight to Tocantins (24.6%), Acre (15.7%) and Bahia (11.4%). On the other hand, eight of the 27 Federation Units accounted for negative results, with a highlight to Mato Grosso do Sul (-12.0%), Ceará (-8.5%) and Rio Grande do Norte (-7.8%).