In February 2022, volume of services in Brazil changes by -0.2% from January, in the seasonally adjusted series, with a cumulative loss of 2.0% in the first two months of the year. As a result, the sector of services is 5.4% above the level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and 7.0% below the rate in November 2014 (peak of the time series).

In the non-adjusted series, against February 2021, volume of services registered the 12th consecutive positive rate, having increased by 7.4% in February 2022. Considering the cumulative index in the first two months this year, volume of services recorded an increase of 8.4% against the same period in 2021. Having changed from 12.2% in January to 13.0% in February 2022, maintained the upward trend initiated in February 2021 (-8.6%).

The decrease of 0.2% in volume of services, from January to February 2022, was observed in only two of the five activities investigated: information and communication services (-1.2%) and other services (-0.9%), which recorded, respectivel, losses of 4.7% and 1.3% in the first two months of 2022. On the other hand, transportation (2.0%), professional, administrative and complementary services (1.4%) and services rendered to enterprises (0.1%) recorded increases in the month, with the two first ones recording the fourth positive result in a row; and the last one showing stability after having interrupted, in January 2022 (-1.0%), a sequence of nine positive rates - a period that recorded an increase of 59.8%.

Also in the seasonally adjusted series, the quarterly moving average index recorded a positive change of (0.1%) in the quarter ended February 2022 agains the result in the previous month, keeping the predominantly positve performance since July 2020. Also in relation to the marginal movement of the index, three sectors recorded increase similarly to the overall index: transportation four of them followed the growth of the overall index: transportation (1.9%), professional, administrative and complementary services (1.8%) and services rendered to enterprises (0.1%). In contrast, only information and communication services (-1.6%) and other services (-0.1%) recorded negative results in the quarter ended in February 2022.

Having advanced 7.4% in February 2022, volume of services registered the 12th consecutive positive rate compared with February 2021.The month’s result was marked by increases in four of the five activities and in 65.7% of the 166 types of services investigated. Among the sectors, that of transportation, support services for transportation and mailing (13.9%) accounted for the main positive contribution to the overall volue of services, due, to a great extent, to the increased revenue of enterprises in the segments of road transportation of cargo, air transportation of passengers, port and terminal management, road transportation of passengers, maritime and port support; and shipping agency activities.

The other advances came from prosessional, administrative and complementary services (7.3%); services rendered to families (17.4%) and information and communication services (2.4%), which recorded increases in revenue in: car rental; allocation of temporary workforce; organization, promotion and management of fairs, congresses and conventions; consulting in business management; charging and cadastral information activities; and management of non-financial intangible, in the first sector; in hotels; restaurant; and catering services, in the second sector; and portals, content providers and Internet search engines; consulting in information technology; data treatment; data treatment, application services providers and Internet hosting services ;development of customized computer programs; and software licensing and other telecommunication activities in the last one.

The only negative rate was that of other services (-3.9%), mainly due to the lower revenue from recovery of plastic material; security brokers; suport activities to forestry; and administration of stock markets and over-the-counter markets.

In terms of the cumulative index in the first two months of 2022, against the same period a year ago, the sector of services recorded an increase of 8.4%, with positive rates in all four of the five activities surveyed and increase og 66.9%% in 166 types of services investigated. Among the sectors, the most relevant positive contribution came from transportation, support activities for transportation and mailing (14.5%). The other advances came from professional, administrative and complementary services (7.4%); information and communication (3.7%); and services rendered to families (18.5%). On the other hand, the sector of other services (-1.3%) recorded the only negative rate in the cumulative indicator in the year.

Services fall in 13 of 27 Federation Units in February

In regional terms, 13 out of 27 Federation Units retracted in volume of services in February 2022 compared with the immediately previous month, following the decrease (-0.2%) reported in Brazil. Among the places with positive rates, the most important impact came from São Paulo (0.5%), followed by the Federal District (-3.4%) and Santa Catarina (-2.0%). Minas Gerais (2.0%), Rio de Janeiro (0.8%) and Mato Grosso (6.6%) recorded the main increases in regional terms.

In the comparison with February 2021, the advance in volume of services in Brazil (7.4%) was observed in 24 out of 27 Federation Units. The main positive contribution came from São Paulo (8.4%), followed by Minas Gerais (8.1%) and Rio Grande do Sul (14.4%). On the contrary, Rondônia (-3.9%) and the Federal District (-0.1%) accounted for the only negative results in the month, whereas Santa Catarina (0.0%) recorded stability against th same month a year ago.

The cumulative index in the first two months of 2022, against the same period a year ago, shows that the advance in volume of services in Brazil (81.4%) was spread over the areas surveyed, since 1026 of the 27 Federation Units recorded increases in real services revenue. São Paulo accounted for the main positive impact (10.3%), in regional terms, followed by Minas Gerais (7.2%) and Rio Grande do Sul (12.8%). The Federal District (-0.9%) registered the only negative contribution to the overall index.

Tourism activities drop 1.0% in February/strong>

InFebruary 2022, the tourism activity index dropped 1.0% from the previous month, after a decrease observed last January (-0.4%). However, the tourism segment was still 9.7% below the level of February 2020. Eight of the 12 places surveyed also recorded decrease as observed in national tourism activity (-1.0%). The most relevant negative contribution came from São Paulo (-1.2%), followed by Pernambuco (-4,9%) and Santa Catarina (-5.1%). Minas Gerais (6.2%), nevertheless, accounted for the most significant positive result in the month.

In the comparison February 2022/February 2021,the index of tourism volume activities in Brazil increased 28.7%, 11th positive rate in a row, mainly due, probably, to the increase of revenue of companies in the segments of air transportation; car rental; hotels; restaurants; collective road transportation of passengers and catering services. In regional terms, seven of the 12 Federation Units in which the indicator is measured registered an advance in tourism services, highlighted by São Paulo (35.1%) and followed by Minas Gerais (63.1%), Bahia (31.6%), Rio de Janeiro (9.3%) and Rio Grande do Sul (33.0%).

Considering the cumulative index in the first two months of 2022, the special aggregate of tourism activities recorded an increase of 29.0% against the same period a year ago, mainly due to revenue increases in companies in the air transportation segment; hotels; car rental; restaurants; collective road transportation of passengers and catering services. All the 12 areas surveyed also recorded positive rates, among which the following ones stood out: São Paulo (37.1%), followed Minas Gerais (55.8%), Bahia (25.5%), Rio de Janeiro (11.6%), Rio Grande do Sul (37.0%) and Pernambuco (24.1%).

IBGE releases new special indicator

The IBGE now releases, for the first time, the special transportation indicator by type of use (cargo or passenger) The time series start in January 2011 and present results at national level, only, without figurues by region.

Against January 2022, in the seasonally adjusted series, passenger transportation increased 1.1% and recorded the fourth positive rate in a row, with cumulative increase of 20.6% between November 2021 and february 2022. However, it is still 28.9% below its peak, which took place in February 2014.

Cargo transportation, having increased 2.5% in February 2022, reaches its fifth consecutive positive rate, with cumulative gain of 10.2%. This sequence of positive rates caused the indicator to reach, this month, the peak in this time series. The record takes places right after the boom of electronic trade, the selling of agricultural products and the movement of inputs and industrial goods by means of different cargo transportation modes: road, railray, waterway and air.

Against February 2021, air transportation of passengers increased 32.9% and that of cargo, 13.8%. In terms of the cumulative index in the year, transportation of passengers recorded an increase of 34.0%, and that of cargo, of 14.1%.