In September 2020, national retail trade grew 0.6% compared to August, in the seasonally adjusted series, the fifth consecutive increase since May 2020. The quarterly moving average was 2.8%. In the series without seasonal adjustment, compared to September 2019, trade grew 7.3%, the fourth consecutive positive rate. In the cumulative result for the year, retail records stability (0.0%), after five months of negative rates. The cumulative index in the last 12 months increased 0.9%.

In extended retail, which includes Motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, the volume of sales grew 1.2% in relation to August 2020, the fifth consecutive positive change. The moving average rose 4.0%, reducing the growth pace of sales, compared to the moving average in the quarters ended in August (7.4%) and July (11.1%). In relation to September 2019, the extended retail trade grew 7.4%, its third consecutive positive rate.

In September, the volume of retail sales rose 0.6% in relation to August and has kept an upward trend since May 2020, after the greatest drop attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was the fifth consecutive increase, although less sharp than the previous ones. As a result, the level of retail trade, which had already reached a record in August, continues to grow. The recovery of some sectors that had accumulated losses in the previous months, such as motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and textiles, wearing apparel and footwear, draws attention.

In the seasonally adjusted series, September had a predominance of positive rates, reaching five of the eight activities surveyed. There were positive results in 13 of the 27 FUs, with highlight to: Piauí (5.7%), São Paulo (2.1%) and Espírito Santo (1.8%).

In comparison with September 2019, in the non-adjusted series, retail sales rose 7.3% in September 2020, the fourth consecutive positive rate. As a result, retail records stability (0.0%) in the year, after six months of negative results. The cumulative index in the last twelve months shows an increase in the pace of sales for the third consecutive month, from 0.5% in August to 0.9% in September.

The extended retail trade, compared to September 2019, grew 7.4% against an increase of 3.8% in August 2020, the third consecutive positive rate. The cumulative change from January to September decreased by 3.6% compared to the 5.0% decrease registered until August. The indicator for the last twelve months, from -1.7% up to August to -1.4% up to September, shows a reduction in the pace of decline for the third consecutive month.

Five of the eight activities surveyed on the rise

In the seasonally adjusted series, from August to September 2020, there was an increase in five of the eight activities surveyed: Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (8.9%); Fuels and lubricants (3.1%); Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (2.1%); Office, computer and communication equipment and material (1.1%) and Furniture and household appliances (1.0%).

On the other hand, exerting negative pressure, there were three sectors: Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (-2.4%); Other personal and domestic articles of personal (-0.6%); and Hyper, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-0.4%).

In the extended retail trade, from August to September, the Motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces sector registered a growth of 5.2% while in Construction material, the increase was 2.6%, both, respectively, after advances of 8.3% and 3.6% recorded in the previous month.

Sales up 6.3% compared to the same quarter of 2019

The quarter ended in September 2020, for retail trade, in comparison with the same period of the previous year, presented a gain of 6.3%, the greatest positive change for this indicator since the fourth quarter of 2012, when it registered 7.3 %.

There was a positive change in four of the eight activities surveyed: Furniture and household appliances (30.4%); Other personal and household articles (15.6%); Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (12.0%) and Hyper and supermarkets, food products and beverages (5.7%).

On the other hand, four activities closed the quarter with negative results: Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-34.6%); Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (-15.4%); Fuels and lubricants (-8.3%) and Office and computer equipment and equipment (-8.3%),

Also in comparison with the same quarter of the previous year, the extended retail trade increased by 4.2%, influenced as well by the construction material activity, with an increase of 26.0%, a historical record in the series.

Main activities:

Furniture and household appliances showed a 28.7% growth in the volume of sales compared to September 2019, the fourth consecutive month of growth. The sector had the greatest positive impact on the retail trade rate in September. In comparison with August, in the seasonally adjusted series, the September indicator was 1.0%, the fifth positive rate after two months of decline. In the year, the sector accumulated a 9.4% increase, with positive results for the third consecutive month. In the indicator in the last 12 months there was also an increase in the pace of sales, going from 1.1% in May to 9.8% in September.

Other personal and household articles, which include department stores, opticians, jewelry stores, sporting goods, toy stores, etc., with 18.9% in the volume of sales in relation to September 2019, showed stability in the pace of sales in relation to the result of August (18.8%), exerting the second major positive contribution to the overall result of retail. In relation to August, there was a fall of 0.6%, the first negative change after four months of growth. The cumulative index in the year, up to September (-1.5%), compared to the previous month (-4.2%), showed a decline in the decrease pace, while the indicator of the last 12 months registered 1.3%, with a gain of 0, 9 pp in relation to the result of August (0.4%).

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with growth of 4.4% compared to September 2019, registered the eighth consecutive positive rate in this comparison, with a gain in pace compared to the result of August (3.0%). The segment represented the third major positive impact in the formation of the global retail rate. In relation to August, there was a reduction of 0.4%, the third consecutive month of decrease in volume of sales. The cumulative index in the year, until September (5.5%), compared to the previous month (5.6%), showed pace stability. The cumulative index in the last 12 months, registering 4.2% in September, has kept the upward trend since March 2020 (1.6%).

Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries showed an increase of 13.7% in sales compared to September 2019, the fourth consecutive positive change, in comparison with the same month of the previous year. In comparison with the previous month, the sector increased by 2.1%, offsetting the -1.2% registered in August. In the cumulative result for the year, from 5.6% until August to 6.5% in the reference month, the sector shows a gain in pace. In the cumulative rate in the last 12 months, the sector increased from 6.2% until August to 6.8% until September.

Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear decreased 7.2% compared to September 2019, the seventh negative rate in this comparison. The activity had the greatest negative impact on the formation of the global retail rate. In comparison with the previous month, the sector fell by 2.4%, after four months of growth. As a result, the cumulative index in the year, from -33.4% in August to -30.6% in September, shows a slight recovery. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, from -20.0% in August to -20.4% in September, is practically stable.

Fuels and lubricants, with a 5.1% drop in the volume of sales compared to September 2019, made the second biggest negative contribution to the total retail result. In relation to August 2020, the sector registered an increase of 3.1%, the fifth consecutive increase in the seasonally adjusted series. As a result, the cumulative result in the year, from -11.7% up to August to -11.0% up to September, shows a reduction in the pace of decline. On the other hand, the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, shows increase in the loss of pace (-7.9%) in relation to the previous month (-7.5%).

Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery decreased 36.0% compared to September 2019. In relation to August, the sector had a positive change of 8.9%, after a 21.1% decrease in the previous month. Year-to-date, from -30.0% until August to -30.5% until September, the sector has stability. The cumulative result in the last 12 months intensifies the pace of decline, from -22.9% in August to -24.3% in September.

Office, computer and communication equipment and material fell by 7.1% compared to September 2019, while the change compared to August 2020 was 1.1%, the fifth positive rate. In the cumulative result for the year, the sector increased from -19.5% until August to -18.2% until September, showing an increase in the pace of sales, despite having presented negative results along 2020. The cumulative rate in the last 12 months is -12.1%, reducing the pace of decline in relation to August (-11.6%).

Extended retail

Motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, falling 1.5% in relation to September 2019, marked the seventh consecutive negative rate, exerting the most intense negative contribution to the month for extended retail. In comparison with the previous month, the sector recorded the fifth consecutive positive rate (5.2% in September). In the year up to September (-18.1%), there was a gain in pace compared to August (-20.2%), although this indicator has been negative since March. The cumulative index in the last 12 months (-11.6%) until September lost pace in relation to the cumulative index until August (-10.7%).

Construction Material, with an increase of 31.3% in relation to September 2019, the sector accounts for the fourth consecutive positive rate and the most significant change of the time series started in January 2004. The sector was one of those that showed recovery, registering its fifth consecutive increase in the volume of sales, when compared to the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series. The cumulative index in the year shows an increase in the pace of sales (7.9%), compared to the month of August (4.9%). The cumulative index in the last 12 months, going from 5.0% in August to 7.2% in September, maintained the upward trend started in June 2020.

Trade sales grow in 13 of the 27 Federation Units

In September, in the seasonally adjusted series, there were positive results in 13 of the 27 Federation Units, with highlight to Piauí (5.7%), São Paulo (2.1%) and Espírito Santo (1.8%). On the other hand, with negative pressure, there are 14 of the 27 Federation Units, with emphasis on: Maranhão (-5.9%), Amapá (-5.5%) and Ceará (-4.4%).

For the same comparison, in the extended retail trade, the change between August and September was 1.2%, with a predominance of positive results in 14 of the 27 Federation Units, with highlight to: Roraima (3.7%), Bahia (3.2%) and Espírito Santo (3.1%). On the other hand, with negative pressure, there are 13 of the 27 Federation Units, especially: Maranhão (-3.9), Ceará (-3.7) and Paraíba (-3.3%).

In the non-adjusted series, compared to September 2019, there were positive results in all 27 Federation Units, with highlight to: Piauí (23.9%), Maranhão (21.6%) and Acre (19.9%). As for participation in the composition of the retail rate, the highlights were: São Paulo (5.8%), Minas Gerais (12.6%) and Santa Catarina (5.7%).

Compared to the retail trade, the extended retail, over September 2019, had positive results in all 27 Federation Units, with highlight to: Acre (24.5%), Maranhão (23.4%) and Amapá (22, 9%). As for the participation in the composition of the extended retail rate, São Paulo (3.9%), Minas Gerais (11.3%) and Santa Catarina (11.5%) stood out.