In May 2021, the volume of national retail trade sales increased by 1.4% from April, in the seasonally adjusted series, after an increase of 4.9% in April. Thequarterly moving average was of 1.1% in the quarter ended May. In the seasonally adjusted series, retail sales rose 16.0% against May 2020. The cumulative index in the year was 6.8% and the cumulative index in 12 months, 5.4%.

Extended retail trade which includes the activities of vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and construction material, recorded an increase for the second consecutive month, with volume of sales 3.8% above that of April. The quarterly moving average remains negative (-0.2%). Agaisnt May 2020, there was an increase of 26.2%. In the year, extended retail has a cumulative increase of 12.4% and, in 12 months, sales increased 6.8%.

Seven of the eight activities surveyed recorded increase, in the seasonally adjusted series

The increase of 1.4% in volume of retail sales, from April to May 2021, in the seasonally adjusted series had positive sales in seven of the eight activities surveyed: Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (16.8%), Fuels and lubricants (6.9%), Other personal and domestic articles (6.7%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (1.4%), Office, computer and communication material and equipment (3.3%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (1.0%) and Furniture and household appliances (0.6%). The only activity recording a decrease against April was Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (-1.4%).

In extended retail trade, the two segments that completed the retail index recorded increase: Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (1.0%) and Construction material (5.0%).

Seven of the eight retail activities recorded positive rates against May 2020

Against May 2020, the increase of retail trade (16.0%) reached seven of the eight activities surveyed: Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (165.2%), Other personal and domestic articles (59.8%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (59.4%), Office, computer and communication material and equipment (32.7%), Furniture and household appliances (22.5%), Fuels and lubricants (19.7%) and Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (18.8%). Hypermarkets and supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco was the only activity recording increase (-4.1%).

In extended retail trade, two complementary activities had a positive performance: Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces increased 71.9% and Construction Material, 25.7%.

The segment of Other personal and domestic articles, which encompasses department stores, glasses shops, jewelry shops, sporting good stores and toy stores, etc., with an increase of 59.8% in volume of sales against May 2020, registered the twelfth consecutive increase in this indicator, accounting for the biggest contribution to the overall result of retail trade (6.2 p.p., from a total 16.0%). The cumulative index in the year (33.8%) increased from April (27.7%) and the index in last 12 months (19.2%), 5.5 p.p. from April (13.7%).

The sector Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear, in turn, increased by 165.2% in relation to May 2020, its second consecutive rate in this comparison. The activity accounted for the second biggest impact on retail (5.8 p.p). The cumulative index in the year, which went from 3.6% in April to 26.2% in May, recorded significant recovery for this sector, which, however, has remained negative for the last 12 months (-3.9%), although with lower intensity than in April (-15.0%).

The segment of Furniture and household articles increased by 2.5% in relation to May 2020, its fourth consecutive increase. In the year, the sector had a cumulative increase of 15.0%, a rate above that in the previous month (13.0%). In the last 12 months, it kept the pace of increase, having changed from 16.4% up to April to 18.9% in May.

Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles and toiletries 8,increased by 8.8% against May 2020, its twelfth consecutive positive rate against the same month in the previous year. The cumulative index in the year went from 16.2% up to April to 16.7% up to May. In the last 12 months, the segment had a cumulative increase of 13.9% up to May.

The sales of Fuels and lubricants rose 19.7% in relation to May 2020, second increase in a row. The cumulative index in the year exceeded the negative index of April (-1.3%) and reached an increase of 2.5% in May. But the indicator in the last twelve months is still negative (-7.4% in April and -4.3% in May).

The segment of Office, computer and communication material and equipment increased 32.7% against May 2020, second positive rate in a row. The cumulative index in the year went from 1.0% up to April to 6.4% in May, but that of the last 12 months is negative (-4.1%).

The activity Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery recorded an increase of 59.4% against May 020, second consecutive positive rate, after 14 months of negative results. The performance of this activity has been influenced by the continuous replacement of printed products by electronic media and a reduced number of physical stores. But the cumulative indicator in the year changed from -33.9% up to April to -27.3% up to May, showing a decrease in the pace of decrease. In the last 12 months, drop amounted to 31.1% in May.

The sector of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco was the only one to record a decrease in the interannual indicator (-4.1%), with its fourth negative result in a row. In the year, there was a cumulative drop of 2.6% – a level similar to that registered up to April (-2.3%). In the last 12 months however, there was an increase in May (1.5%).

In extended retail trade, the sector of Vehicles , motorcycles, parts and pieces recorded an increase of 71.9% in relation to May 2020, third positive rate in a row, accounting for the biggest contribution to the result of retail trade (11.9 p.p from a total 26.2%). In the year, increase amounted to 26.3%. In the last 12 months, the segment recovered from the negative result in May, and registered 4.1% (against -3.7% in April).

Finally, the segment of Construction Material (25.7%) was responsible for the twelfth consecutive positive rate against the same month a year ago. In the year, the indicator recorded stability in relation to the figure up to April (25.6% in both). In the last 12 months, there was a continuation of the trend to increase started in June 2020, with a change from 21.1% in April to 23.7% in May.

Sales increased in 26 Federation Units against April

From April to May 2021, in the seasonally adjusted series, the average national retail trade rate increased by 1.4%, with a predominance of 26 of the 27 Federation Units, mainly: Amapá (23.3%), Ceará (9.4%) and Minas Gerais (9.2%). The only state with a negative result was Goiás (-0.3%).

In the same comparison, in extended retail trade, there was an increase of 3.8%, with a predominance of positive results in 24 of the das 27 Federation Units, mainly: Amapá (21.6%), Minas Gerais (8.6%) and Federal District (6.9%). On the other hand, Sergipe (-4.9%), Ceará (-1.0%) and Tocantins (-0.3%) recorded negative results.

Against May 2020, retail sales increased 16.0%, with positive results in 26 of the 27 Federation Units, mainly: Amapá (92.0%), Piauí (44.6%) and Pará (43.4%). Tocantins (-2.7%) recorded a positive result. In extended retail trade, the increase of 26.2% was observed in 27 Federation Units, with a highlight to Amapá (105.3%), Piauí (62.4%) and Pará (57.5%).