In March 2023, volume of services in Brazil changed by 0.9% against February in the seasonally adjusted series. As a result, the sector was 12.4% above the level in February 2020 (before the pandemic) and 1.3% below the figure in December 2022, peak of the time series. In the seasonally-unadjusted series, volume of services advanced 6.1% over January 2022, the 23rd positive rate in a row. The cumulative index in the year reached 5.8% and the cumulative index in 12 months went from 7.8% in February 2023 to 7.4% in March, lowest result since September 2021 (6.8%).

*seasonally-adjusted series The increase of 0.9% in volume of services in March 2023, in the seasonally-adjusted series, was observed in three of the five activities surveyed, with a highlight to the transportation sector, (3.6%), and professional, administrative and complementary services (2.6%). The former had a cumulative increase of 7.0% in February and March, whereas the latter recovered part of the cumulative loss of 3.4%, relative to the first two months of the year.

The other increase in the month came from information and communication services (0.2%) which had a cumulative increase in the first three months of the year after a cumulative decrease of 2.3% in the last two months of 2022.

Negative results in the month came from services rendered to families (-1.7%) and other services (-0.6%), with the former having reached the second drop in a row, and recording a cumulative decrease of 2.5%; and the latter reversing the increase observed in February (0.4%).

The quarterly moving average was –0.5% in the quarter ended March 2023 against the previous month, and interrupted a series of 16 months of positive rates registered since November 2021. Among the sectors, also in the seasonally-adjusted series, three of five activities retreated against the level of the quarter ended February: services rendered to families (professional, administrative and complementary services (-0.3%) and other services (-3.2%). On the other hand, transportation (0.8%) and information and communication (0.8%) recorded positive rates.  

Against March 2022, Against March 2022, volume of services increased 6.3%, twenty-fifth positive rate in a row. Four of the five activities and 57.8% of the 166 types of services investigated recorded increases.

The main positive contributions came from the transportation sector of support services to transportation and mailing (8.5%) and information and communication (6.5%). The other advances came from professional, administrative and complementary services (5.5%) and services rendered to families (3.7%). The sector of other services (0.0%) remained stable.

As for the cumulative index in the first four months of 2022, against the same period a year ago, reached 5.8%, with positive rates in al the five activities among the 166 types of services investigated.

Services grew in 24 of the 27 Federation Units in March

In March, volume of services increased in 24 of the 27 Federation Units from February. The main impacts came from São Paulo (1.8%) and Rio de Janeiro (2.8%), Minas Gerais (3.2%), Santa Catarina (5.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (2.8%). The main negative influences came from Pernambuco (-2.3%), Mato Grosso (-1.9%) and Amapá (-1.7%).

Against March 2022, the advance of services in Brazil (6.3%) was registered in 26 of the 27 Federation Units. The main positive contribution came from São Paulo (3.4%), followed by Rio de Janeiro (9.5%), Paraná (11.4%), Minas Gerais (7.3%) and Santa Catarina (14.0%). On the other hand, the Federal District (-0.6%) recorded the only negative result in the month.

In the cumulative index in the first quarter, against the same period in 2022, the advance in volume of services in Brazil (5.8%) was widespread in the areas surveyed, since all the 27 Federation Units recorded increases in real services revenue. The main positive impact in regional terms took place in São Paulo (3.3%), followed by Rio de Janeiro (8.0%), Minas Gerais (8.9%), Paraná (11.1%) and Rio Grande do Sul (8.1%).

Index of tourism activities stands at 0.1% in March

In March 2023, the index of tourism activities recorded a change of 0.1% against the immediately previous month, after a drop of 1.3% in February. As a result, the tourism segment was 2.5% above the level of February 2020 and 4.6% below the peak of the time series, reached in February 2014.

By area, only four of the 12 areas surveued recorded positive changes, with the most relevant contribution generated by Minas Gerais (2.2%), São Paulo (0.4%), Paraná (2.6%) and Bahia (1.8%). On the contrary, Rio de Janeiro (-3.3%), Rio Grande do Sul (-5.5%) and the Federal District (-3.6%) recorded the main decreases in regional terms.

Against March 2022, the volume of tourism activities in Brazil increased by 6.6%, 24th positive rate in a row, mainly due to the rise in revenue of companies in the segments of car rental; restaurants; travel agencies; hotels; catering services; collective road transportation of passengers; and theater activities and shows.

Increases were registered in nine of the 12 Federation Units where the indicator is surveyed, mainly in São Paulo (4.7%), Minas Gerais (23.2%), Paraná (17.4%) and Bahia (12.1%). Negative changes were those in Pernambuco (-1.2%), Rio Grande do Sul (-0.2) and Espírito Santo (-0.1%).

As for the cumulative index in the yearo, the special aggregate of tourism activities increased 11.1% against the same period in 2022, mainly due to the increases in revenue in the sectors of car rental; restaurants; hotels; travel agencies; road passenger transportation and catering services.

There were hikes in the 12 places surveyed. especially in São Paulo (10.6%), Minas Gerais (24.3%), Rio de Janeiro (7.0%), Bahia (15.6%), Paraná (17.6%) and Santa Catarina (15.6%).

In March, passenger transportation drops whereas cargo transportation records increase

In March 2023, volume of passenger transportation in Brazil fell 3.3% against February, in the seasonally adjusted series, after an increase of 2.4% last February. This way, the segment is 1.0% above the level in February 2020, prior to the pandemic, and 22.0% below that of February 2014 (peak of the time series).

Volume of cargo increased by 4.7%, with a cumulative increase of 7.7% in the last two months, after a drop of 2.7% in January. So, the sgment reached, this month, its peak in the series, previously registered in August 2022. Cargo transportation is 39.5% above the pre-pandemic level (February 2020).

Compared with March 2022, passnger transportation recorded the 24th positive rate in a row by advancing 3.5% in March 2023, whereas cargo transportation, in the same comparison, increased 14.8%, its 31sth consecutive positive result.

As for the cumulative index in 2023, transportation of passengers increased 7.0% against the same period in 2022, whereas cargo transportation increased 11.6% in the same period investigated.