In the seasonally-adjusted series, the retail sales changed 0.1% in August 2019 compared with the previous month. This was the third consecutive positive figure in this type of comparison, which represented an increase of 1.2% in the period. As a result, the evolution of the quarterly moving average index for retail in the quarter ended in August (0.4%) registered the same pace of sales of the quarter ended in July (0.4%).

In the seasonally-unadjusted series, the retail trade advanced 1.3% compared with August 2018. As a result, the cumulative rate in the year stood at 1.2%. Having changed from 1.6% in July to 1.4% in August, the cumulative index over the last 12 months lost pace.

In the extended retail, which includes the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and of Construction material, volume of sales remained unchanged (0.0%) against July 2019. As a result, the moving average (0.2%) reduced the pace when compared with the moving average in the quarter ended in July (0.4%).

The extended retail trade increased 1.4% over August 2018, the fifth consecutive positive rate and the lowest one among them. As a result, the extended retail accrued an increase of 3.5% in the year. Having changed from 4.1% in July to 3.7% in August, the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months also pointed to a drop in the pace.

Four of eight activities surveyed grow between July and August

The change of 0.1% in volume of sales of the retail trade between July and August showed a balance between negative and positive rates, hitting four out of the eight activities surveyed in each case. On the positive side, the highlights were: Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.6%) and Other articles of personal and domestic use (0.2%), which, together, accounted for more than 60% of the total retail. Also with positive rates, we can mention: Office, computer and communication material and equipment (3.8%) and  Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (0.2%).

On the other hand, the following activities recorded negative changes: Fuels and lubricants (-3.3%); Fabric, apparel and footwear (-2.5%), Furniture and household appliances (-1.5%); and Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (-0.3%).

Considering the extended retail trade, volume of sales remained stable (0.0%). The sector of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces fell 1.7%, the second retreat in a row, and Construction material declined 0.8% in August, discounting the increase of 0.7% posted in the previous month.

Volume of sales grows 1.3% over August 2018

Compared with the same month a year ago, the retail trade grew 1.3% in August 2019, with negative rates hitting five out of the eight activities. It is worth mentioning that August 2019 (22 days) had one business day less than the same month last year (23 days). Among the increasing activities, the highlights were, in order of contribution to the rate: Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (2.4%), followed by Other articles of personal and domestic use (4.7%) and Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (5.2%).

The major activities that negatively pressed the retail were: Fuels and lubricants (-2.9%) and Fabric, apparel and footwear (-3.4%), followed by: Furniture and household appliances (-1.3%); Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-17.1%) and Office, computer and communication material and equipment (-3.5%).

Having advanced 1.4% against August 2018, the extended retail trade posted the fifth positive rate in a row. This result was mainly influenced by the performance of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (2.9%), whereas the sector of Construction material pressed negatively, declining 1.6%.

The sector of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (2.4%) recorded the third positive rate in a row.  This segment exerted the major positive impact on the overall retail rate. The performance of this activity, which sells essential items, has been sustained by the increase in the employed population and by the stability in the real usual wage bill. The cumulative indicator between January and August stayed at 0.3% and, having increased 0.8%, the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months lost pace in relation to July (1.1%).

The segment of Other articles of personal and domestic use (4.7%), which comprises department stores, glasses shops, jewelry shops, sporting goods stores and toy stores, lost pace in relation to the July´s figure (8.1%). Even so, this sector exerted the second biggest contribution to the overall retail rate. The cumulative index in the year stayed at 4.9% and the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months registered a rate of 5.9%, a loss of 0.4 p.p. in relation to the July´s figure (6.3%).

The activity of Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and toiletry articles (5.2%) exerted the third positive contribution, being the 28th consecutive positive change in the comparison with the same month last year. The rate stayed at 6.4% in relation to the cumulative index in the year. Having changed from 6.4% in July to 6.2% in August, the cumulative rate over the last 12 months recorded a slight reduction in its growth.

Fuels and lubricants (-2.9%) interrupted a sequence of three positive rates and exerted the biggest negative contribution to the overall retail rate. Having changed from 1.2% to 0.6%, the cumulative indicator in the year reduced the pace of sales. Even so, the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months remained virtually stable between July (-0.6%) and August (-0.7%).

The sector of Fabric, apparel and footwear (-3.4%) registered a negative rate once again, also exerting the major negative pressure on the overall retail rate. Having changed from 0.4% to -0.1%, the cumulative index in the year confirmed the loss of pace. Having changed from 1.3% in July to 0.7% in August, the cumulative index over the last 12 months also lost pace.

The segment of Furniture and household appliances (-1.3%) exerted the second major negative impact, after increasing 7.4% in the previous month. The index changed -0.1% concerning the cumulative rate in the year. Having changed from -0.9% to -0.8%, the cumulative indicator over the last 12 months remained virtually stable.

The activity of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-17.1%) had its behavior influenced by the changes in the way of trading its main items, besides the changes in the habits of consumers. As a result, the cumulative indicator in the year lost 25.1%. Having changed from -25.2% to -25.5%, the cumulative index over the last 12 months has remained negative since March 2014.

The segment of Office, computer and communication material and equipment retreated 3.5% over August 2018. This segment changed -0.6% in the year. The cumulative rate over the last 12 months (-0.1%) pointed to a smaller pace of sales in relation to July (0.5%).

The sector of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (2.9%) recorded the fifth consecutive positive rate and exerted the major positive contribution to the extended retail. The cumulative indicator in the year increased 10.7% and, having risen 11.3% up to August, the cumulative index over the last 12 months lost pace in relation to the cumulative rate up to July (12.5%).

The segment of Construction material (-1.6%) dropped once again, after a positive figure in July (8.1%). As a result, the cumulative indicator in the year (3.6%) showed the reduction of pace compared with July (4.5%). Having changed from 3.6% to 2.9%, the cumulative index over the last 12 months also lost pace.

Sales advance in 15 of 27 Federation Units

Between July and August 2019, the retail posted positive results in 15 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted by Piauí (11.9%), Amapá (4.3%) and Maranhão (3.9%). On the other hand, the negative highlights, in terms of magnitude of the rate, were in Rio Grande do Sul (-7.6%), Rio de Janeiro (-2.3%) and Roraima (-2.1%).

In the same comparison, the extended retail trade did not register any change between July and August (0.0%), with positive figures in 16 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted by Amapá (9.1%), Piauí (4.6%) and Pará (2.5%). Pressing negatively, the highlights were Roraima (-3.0%), Bahia and Rio de Janeiro (both with -1.9%).

Compared with August 2018, the positive rates reached 14 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted by Amapá (26.4%), Amazonas (12.2%) and Santa Catarina (11.4%), while Bahia (0.0%) remained stable. Pressing negatively, 12 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted by Paraíba (-9.0%), Piauí 
(-4.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-3.4%).

Concerning the contribution to the retail rate, the highlights were São Paulo (2.9%), Santa Catarina (11.4%) and Amazonas (12.2%). On the other hand, Paraná (-1.3%), Paraíba (-9.0%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-3.4%) pressed negatively.

Regarding the extended retail trade, 16 out of the 27 Federation Units posted positive figures, highlighted by Amapá (39.9%), Santa Catarina (10.2%) and Mato Grosso (6.8%). Pressing negatively, 10 out of the 27 Federation Units, highlighted by Piauí (-6.4%), Paraíba (-5.7%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-3.1%), whereas Bahia remained stable (0.0%).

Concerning the contribution to the extended retail rate, the highlights were São Paulo (1.9%), Santa Catarina (10.2%) and Paraná (2.3%). Conversely, Rio Grande do Sul (-3.1%), Rio de Janeiro (-1.5%) and Espírito Santo (-2.6%) exerted the major negative impacts.