In August 2018, the national retail trade grew 1.3% against July, in the seasonally adjusted series, offsetting, thus, most of the 1.5%drop accumulated in the last three months. In this comparison, the revenue increased 1.5%, making the quarterly moving average (0.3%) get away from the negative result seen in July (-0.5%).

In the non-adjusted series, against August 2017, retail trade grew 4.1%, after dropping 1.0% in July. The cumulative index in the year was of 2.6%, with pace increase in relation to the cumulative index of July (2.3%). The cumulative index in the last 12 months went from 3.2% in July to 3.3% in August, virtually stable.

In the extended retail trade, which includes the activities of Motor vehicles, parts and pieces and Construction materials, the sales went up 4.2% over July, growing again after the -0,3% rate. As a result, the quarterly moving average of the quarter ended in August (2.2%) had increase in the pace of sales, when compared to the moving average of the quarter ended in July (-0.9%). Over August 2017, it had an advance of 6.9%, the sixteenth consecutive positive rate, the biggest since April 2018 (8.5%). Therefore, the extended retail accumulated and expansion of 5.6% from January to August, advancing over the cumulative index up to July (5.4%). The cumulative indicator of the last twelve months, going from 6.5% in July to 6.4% up to August, also signaled pace stability in sales. Access the complete publication and the support material on the right of this page.

Seven of the eight activities surveyed up

The growth of 1.3% in the volume of retail sales, from July to August 2018, in the seasonally adjusted series, shows positive results in seven of the eight activities surveyed: Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (5.6%), Fuel and lubricants (3.0%), Other personal and household articles (2.5%), Furniture and household appliances (2.0%), Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (0.9%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.7%), Office, computer and communication material and equipment (0.6%). The only activity with a negative rate in August was Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-2.5%), which has shown a predominantly negative behavior since May, accumulating a 9.7% loss in this period.

In the expanded retail trade, the volume of sales, in August, showed an expansion of 4.2% in relation to July 2018, in the series with seasonal adjustment, after dropping -0.3% in the previous month. This result was strongly influenced by the sales of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (5.4%) and Construction materials (4.6%), both compensating the decreases registered in July, respectively, of -1.4% and -3.5%.

In August 2018, compared to the same month of the previous year, the retail trade advanced 4.1% with five of the eight activities registering an increase in sales. The positive highlights, in order of contribution to the formation of the overall retail rate, came from Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (5.5%), the largest sector in the retail structure, followed by Other personal and household articles (9.5%) and Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmentics (7.4%). Also with positive rates are: Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (2.9%) and Office, computer and communication material and equipment (3.1%). On the other hand, negative pressures include Fuels and lubricants (-2.0%) and Furniture and household appliances (-2.4%), followed by Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-12.0%).

With an increase of 6.9%, compared to August 2017, the extended retail trade registered the sixteenth positive rate, with the main contribution to the total retail rate coming from Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (15.9%), , in addition to the positive pressure of Construction material, with advance of 5.9%.

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with a 5.5% increase compared to August 2017, recorded the seventeenth consecutive positive rate in this comparison, and with a higher pace than the July result (1.3%),  thus, exerting the greatest positive impact on the overall retail rate. The performance of the activity has been supported by the stability of the usual real wage bill and by the increase of the employed population. The cumulative index in the last twelve months increased from 4.5% in July to 4.8% in August, on the rise since March 2017 (-3.0%).

Other personal and household articles, which include department stores, glasses shops, jewelry shops, sporting goods, toys stores, etc., with a 9.5% increase in the volume of sales in relation to August 2017, made the second largest contribution to the the retail result, with a pace increase in relation to the July result (4.6%). The cumulative indicator in the last twelve months, with a rate of 6.5%, has kept the recovery trend initiated in September 2016 (-10.4%).

Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries, with an increase of 7.4% in sales compared to August 2017, exerted the third largest contribution to the overall retail rate, registering the sixteenth consecutive positive change. In terms of cumulative result in the last twelve months, from 6.0% until July to 6.3% in August, the upward trend has been kept since April 2017 (-3.5%).

Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear, which grew by 2.9% in relation to August 2017, interrupted the downward trend observed for six consecutive months and accounted for the fourth largest positive contribution to the composition of the general retail rate. Even so, the cumulative index in the last twelve months, from 1.2% in July to 0.7% in August, indicates a loss of pace, a movement observed since January 2018 for this activity.

Office, computer and communication equipment and material  advanced 3.1% compared to August 2017. The cumulative index in the last twelve months (-2.8%) reduced the pace of decline in sales compared to July (-3.3 %), signaling gain of pace. 

Fuels and lubricants, with a decrease of 2.0% in the volume of sales in relation to August 2017, the group exerted a larger negative contribution to the total retail result. The change of fuel prices, above the average price change, is a relevant factor that has been negatively influencing the performance of the sector. As a result, the annualized indicator accumulated in the last twelve months has remained negative (-5.1%) since March 2015, sharpening the downward trend since April 2018 (2.9%).

Furniture and household appliances, with a decrease of 2.4% in the volume of sales in relation to August 2017, also exerted a larger negative contribution to the result of the total retail trade rate, but reduced the pace of decline compared to the month of July (- 6.9%). The cumulative indicator in the last twelve months, from 5.2% until July to 3.7% in August, registered a significant loss of pace, which began in April 2018.

Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery had a decrease in the volume of sales of -12.0% compared to August 2017. The behavior of this activity was influenced by the reduction of physical stores. As a result, the annualized indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, from -7.6% to -8.1%, accentuated the downward trend started in February 2018 (-3.6%).

Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, registering 15.9% in relation to August 2017, marked the sixteenth consecutive positive rate, making the largest contribution to the result of August in the extended retail. The cumulative index in the last twelve months rose from 14.0% until July to 14.2% until August, keeping the recovery trend and registering the highest rate for this comparison since July 2011 (13.5%).

With an increase of 5.9% in relation to August 2017, the Construction Material segment showed once again expansion in this comparison. The cumulative index in the last twelve months lost pace and went from 8.4% in July to 7.8% in August.

Sales grow in 24 of the 27 Federation Units

From July to August 2018, in the seasonally adjusted series, the national average retail sales rate showed a change of 1.3%, with positive results in 24 of the 27 Federation Units with highlights in terms of magnitude of sales, for Paraíba (7.5%) and Acre (7.1%). On the other hand, the states of Tocantins (-2.0%) and Piauí (-0.5%) presented the only negative changes, while Roraima recorded stability (0.0%). For the same comparison, in the expanded retail trade, the change between July and August was 4.2%, with 26 of the 27 Federation Units showing an increase in sales in the same comparison, especially Paraíba (6.7%), Rio Grande do Sul and Goiás (both with 5.6%). Sergipe was the only Federation Unit with a negative rate (-0.6%).

Compared to August 2017, the change in domestic retail sales was 4.1%, with 23 of the 27 Federative Units showing positive results, especially Paraíba (14.1%), Maranhão and Espírito Santo (both with 9.6%). Among the states that showed a drop in sales, the highlights in terms of magnitude were observed in Amapá (-3.9%), Piauí (-2.7%) and Roraima (-2.4%). Regarding the participation in the composition of the retail rate, the following stand out: São Paulo (5.3%), followed by Santa Catarina (6.5%) and Rio Grande do Sul (7.3%). Considering the increased retail trade, in comparison with August 2017, the expansion was of 6.9%, with 23 of the 27 Federative Units showing positive changes, especially in terms of volume of slaes for Espírito Santo (15.8% %), Paraíba (13.3%) and Mato Grosso (11.9%). On the other hand, Amapá (-7.9%) and Rondônia (-7.7%) presented negative change rates. As for the participation in the composition of the extended retail rate, São Paulo (9.1%), Rio Grande do Sul (8.7%), and Santa Catarina (10.1%) stand out.