In April 2023, the volume of services in Brazil decreased by 1.6% compared to March, in the seasonally adjusted series, after having accumulated a gain of 2.1% between February and March. As a result, the sector was 10.5% above the February 2020 level (pre-pandemic) and 2.9% below December 2022 (highest point in the time series).

In the non-adjusted series, compared to April 2022, the volume of services increased by 2.7%, the 26th consecutive positive rate. The cumulative index in the year was 4.8% and the cumulative index in the last 12 months increased from 7.3% in March to 6.8% in April, the lowest result since August 2021 (5.1%).).

The 1.6% retraction in the volume of services in April 2023, in the seasonally adjusted series, was recorded by four of the five surveyed activities, with a highlight to the transportation sector (-4.4%), which returned part of the cumulative gain (7.5%) between February and March. The other decreases came from information and communication services (-1.0%); professional, administrative and complementary services (-0.6%); and other services (-1.1%).

On the other hand, the only expansion in the month came from services rendered to families (1.2%), which recovered part of the cumulative loss (-2.2%) between February and March.

The quarterly moving average was 0.2% in the quarter ended in April 2023 compared to the previous month, thus achieving the first positive result of 2023.

Among the sectors, still in the seasonally adjusted series, there was dissemination of positive rates, with advances in three out of five activities: transportation (0.9%); information and communication (0.6%); and professional, administrative and complementary services (0.6%), while other services (-0.4%) and services rendered to families (-0.3%) had negative rates.

Compared to April 2022, the volume of services advanced by 2.7%, its 26th consecutive positive rate. There were highs in four of the five activities and in 57.2% of the 166 types of services investigated.

The main positive contributions came from information and communication (4.0%) and professional, administrative and complementary services (4.0%). The other advances came from transportation, support services for transportation and mailing (2.0%) and services rendered to families (2.9%). On the other hand, the only negative result came from the sector of other services (-0.9%).

The cumulative result for the year, compared to the same period of the previous year, was 4.8%, with positive rates in all activities and in 59.0% of the 166 types of services investigated.

Services retreat in 26 of the 27 Federation Units in April

In April, the volume of services decreased in 26 of the 27 Federation Units, in relation to March. The most important impacts came from São Paulo (-1.5%) and Rio de Janeiro (-5.5%), followed by Santa Catarina (-3.5%), Goiás (-5.6%) and Mato Grosso (-4.2%). On the other hand, Ceará (1.0%) made the only positive contribution in the month.

Compared to April 2022, the increase trend in the volume of services in Brazil (2.7%) was followed by 23 of the 27 Federation Units. The main positive contribution came from Minas Gerais (6.9%), followed by Paraná (8.7%), Santa Catarina (10.7%), São Paulo (0.6%) and Rio Grande do Sul (5. 3%). On the other hand, Mato Grosso do Sul (-1.3%), Alagoas (-1.8%) and Amapá (-4.2%) brought the only negative results for the month.

In the cumulative result for the first four months of 2023, compared to the same period of the previous year, the increase in the volume of services in Brazil (4.8%) was widespreda among the investigated locations, since 26 of the 27 Federation Units also showed expansion in real revenue from services. The main positive impact came from São Paulo (2.4%), followed by Rio de Janeiro (5.8%), Minas Gerais (8.4%), Paraná (10.5%) and Santa Catarina (10.4%). %). On the other hand, Mato Grosso do Sul (-0.2%) registered the only negative influence on the national index.

Tourism activities index stands at -0.1% in April

In April 2023, the tourism activities index had a negative change of 0.1% compared to the previous month, the third consecutive negative result, a period in which it accumulated a loss of 1.6%. As a result, the tourism segment is 0.7% above the February 2020 level and 6.7% below the highest point in the series, reached in February 2014.

Regionally, only five of the 12 locations surveyed followed this retraction movement. The most relevant negative influence came from the Federal District (-6.2%), followed by Paraná (-2.8%), Bahia (-1.3%) and Pernambuco (-1.7%). On the other hand, São Paulo (1.0%) and Rio de Janeiro (2.6%) registered the main advances in regional terms.

Compared to April 2022, the volume of tourism activities in Brazil grew by 1.4%, the 25th consecutive positive rate, driven by the increase in revenue from companies operating in the car rental business; theatrical, musical and show activities in general; travel agencies; catering services; and mass road transportation of passengers.

There were rises in five of the 12 FUs where the indicator is investigated, with a highlight to São Paulo (3.6%), followed by Minas Gerais (10.1%), Paraná (3.6%) and Rio Grande do Sul (1.1%). On the other hand, Distrito Federal (-10.0%) exerted the most relevant negative impact, followed by Pernambuco (-7.4%), Goiás (-4.4%) and Rio de Janeiro (-0.5%).

In the cumulative result for the year, the special aggregate of tourism activities grew 8.4% compared to the same period in 2022, driven by increases in revenue from car rental; restaurants; hotels; travel agencies; mass road transportation of passengers; and catering services.
There were increases in 11 of the 12 areas investigated, with emphasis on São Paulo (8.3%), Minas Gerais (20.4%), Rio de Janeiro (5.0%), Bahia (11.7%), Paraná (13 .7%) and Santa Catarina (11.6%). On the other hand, the Federal District (-1.0%) had the only negative result.

In April, passenger and cargo transport recedes

In April 2023, the volume of passenger transportation in Brazil decreased by 1.4% compared to March, in the seasonally adjusted series, the second consecutive negative result, a period in which it accumulated a loss of 4.7%. Thus, the segment is 0.9% below the level of February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and 23.7% below February 2014 year (highest point in the time series).

In turn, the volume of cargo transportation fell by 3.4%, thus eliminating a small part of the 8.0% gain seen between February and March. The segment is 3.4% below the highest point in its series, reached in March 2023. With regard to the pre-pandemic level, cargo transportation is 34.9% above February 2020.

Compared to April 2022, passenger transportation, with a decrease of 5.2%, interrupted a sequence of 24 consecutive positive rates, while cargo transportation grew by 7.8%, marking the 32nd consecutive positive result.

In the cumulative indicator in the first four months, passenger transportation grew by 3.9% and cargo increased by 10.7%.