In January 2025, volume of sales of retail trade changed by -0.1%, from December, in the seasonally-adjusted series, and the quarterly moving average hit -0.2%. From January 2024, volume of sales increased by 3.1%, its 20th positive rate in this comparison. The cumulative index in the last 12 months reached 4.7%.

In extended retail trade, which encompasses vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and construction material, volume of sales increased by 2.3% in January. The quarterly moving average was -0.2%. 

Against the same period in 2024, there was an increase of 2.2%, 12th consecutive increase in this comparison. The cumulative index in 12 months reached 3.8%.

In January 2025, with a change of -0.1% in the seasonally adjusted series, national retail reached three consecutive months of stability, with a sequence of three negative changes, but very close to zero. As a result, in January 2025, retail is 0.6% below the record level of the fixed base index with seasonal adjustment, reached in October 2024.

Two sectors of great relevance to the indicator showed negative changes in this comparison: Hypermarkets and supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-0.4%) and Pharmaceuticals, medical, orthopedic and perfumery articles and toiletries (-3.4%), the last item recording its fourth consecutive decrease.

Four of the eight activities had positive results in the seasonally adjusted series 

Volume of sales of retail trade changed by -0.1% against December 2024, in the seasonally adjusted series. Four of the eight activities surveyed recorded positive changes: Office, computer and communication material and equipment (5.3%), Fuels and lubricants (1.2%), Other personal and household articles (0.7%) and Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery  (0.6%). Other four activities recorded negative rates: Fabric, apparel and footwear (-0.1%), Furniture and household appliances (-0.2%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-0.4%) and Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles and toiletries (-3.4%).

The two additional activities that form extended retail had a positive performance: Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (4.8%) and Construction material (3.0%).

Six of the eight activities in retail advanced from January 2024

In January 2025, against the same month in 2024, volume of retail trade sales increased by 3.1%, with increases in seven of the eight activities surveyed: Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles and toiletries (6.2%), Other personal and household articles (4.5%), Furniture and household appliances (4.4%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (2.8%), Fabric, apparel and footwear (2,6%), Office, computer and communication material and equipment (1.9%) and Fuels and lubricants (1.1%). The only negative change was that of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-0.2%).

As for extended retail trade, Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces increased 8.9% from January 2024, Construction material from 3.9% and Wholesale trade of food products, beverages and tobacco dropped by 10.4%.

The sector of Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles and toiletries increased by 6.2% against the same month a year ago, biggest increase among the eight sectors of retail and the twenty third positive result in the interannual indicator. The sector accounted for the second biggest contribution (0.6 p.p.) to the overall rate of retail trade (3.1%). As for the cumulative index in the last twelve months, the sector kept the intensity of gain, having changed from 14.2% up to December 2024 to 14.1% up to January 2025.

The sector of Other personal and household articles, which encompasses department stores, jewelry shops, glasses stores, sporting goods stores, toy stores, etc., increased by 4.5% from January 2024, twelfth consecutive increase, less significant, however, than that in the previous month (9.8% in December 2024). Also, the cumulative index in 12 months has increased  (7.6% in January 2025) since July 2024.

Sales of Fuels and lubricants  increased by 4.4% from January 2024, after an increase of 9.4% in December. Since August 2024 the sector has alternated months of bigger or smaller increase (o stability) with later recovery in the subsequent month: 6.3% in August; -0.2% in September; 9.9% in October; and 0.5% in November. Nevertheless, in the last twelve months, the sector has had cumulative gain, for the last twelve months with no interruption, having reached 4.4% in January 2025. 

With an increase of 2.8% against January the sector of Hypermarkets and supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, reversed, in January 2025, the negative result of December 2024 (-0.8%). As a result, volume of sales represented the biggest contribution to the formation of overall rate, with a total 1.6 p.p. for a total 3.1% of retail. In comparison with the last 12 months, the activity also had cumulative gains: 4.3% up to January 2025, a lower result in comparison with the cumulative result of 4.6% in comparison with December 2024.

The sector of Fabric, apparel and footwear increased by 2.6% in January 2025, in the interannual indicator, the seventh positive result after stability (0.0%) in June 2024. The activity has kept growing since the second semester of 2024 after a period of losses in the first semester. As for the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, the result had gains since August 2024, having reached +3.0% in January 2025.

The sector of Office, computer and communication material and equipment, in the interannual comparison, presented an increase of 1.9% against January 2024, the first positive result after two months of decrease (-4.0% in November and -2.2% in December). In this comparison, of the last twelve points, six referred to negative results and six to positive ones. In terms of the cumulative index in the last twelve months, having changed from 0.7% up to December 2024 to 0.5% in January, the sector showed reduction in the pace of increase. 

The sector of Fuels and lubricants, in January 2025, recorded an increase of 1.1% in sales from January 2024. This result reverses the negative result of December (-1.8%). Since May 2024, the sector had been showing negative results against the same period in the previous year (-4.0% in May and June, -4.4% in July, -4.6% in August and -1.5% in September), with increaase after this period (+2.0% in October and +3.0% in November). In addition to that, by analyzing the cumulative index in the last 12 months, it is observed that the sector the sector has recorded consecutive losses since March 2024, and reached -1.5% up to January 2025.

The only activity to record negative results in January 2025 from January 2024 was Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery, with -0.2%, ninth consecutive month to record increases. In fact, the only month to have an increase in the sector, since February 2023 was April 2024 (+2.4%). in 12 month, the sector had had cumulative losses of 6.4% up to January 2025, below the level of December (-7.7%).

As for extended retail trade, the activity of Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces recorded and increase of 8.9% in sales against January 2024, twenty first positive result in the sector, interannual base (the last month to record a drop in this indicator was April 2024: -2.0%). Additionally, this sector contributed the most to the global interannual rate, accounting for 1.6 p.p. to a total of 2.2% if extended retail. As for the cumulative index in the last twelve months, there were increases, but drops since October: 12.9% up to  October; 11.8% up to November; 11.2% up to December 2024; and 11.4% up to January.

The sector of Construction material recorded a positive rate  (3.9%), in the month previous month comparison, reaching eight months on nonstop increase. The result of January is also the highest in the last three months, being only surpassed by that of October 2024: 12.5% in October; 3.7% in November and 2.1% in December. In the last 12 months, gains have grown since April 2024 (0.4%), reaching 5.1% up to January 2025.

Finally, companies in the segment of Wholesale trade of food products, beverages and tobacco decreased by 10.4% in January 2025 against January 2024, sixth negative result and the third one, in the period, to record a two digit figure (the others were August and November: -11.6% and -11.4%, respectively. In the last twelve months, the result was also negative: -8.9% up to January.

Retail trade had positive rates in 15 of the 27 Federation Units

From December 2024 to January 2025, in the seasonally adjusted series, the national average rate of sales in retail trade was -0.1% with positive results in 15 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight to: Amapá (13.1%), Tocantins (4.6%) and Mato Grosso (3.1%). On the other hand, 11 Federation Units recorded negative results, among which Sergipe (-3.9%), Roraima (-3.5%) and Alagoas (-2.0%). Espírito Santo registered stability (0.0%).

In the same comparison, retail trade increased by 2.3%, with positive results in 21 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight to: Amapá (13.5%), Tocantins (10.2%) and Mato Grosso (5.5%). On the other hand, 6 of the 27 Federation Units recorded a drop in the marginal result, with a highlight to Roraima (-2.7%), Alagoas (-2.5%) and Sergipe (-2.3%).

From January 2024, the increase of 3.1% in sales of retail trade recorded a predominance of positive rates for the Federation Units (23 of the total of 27), with a highlight to: Amapá (14.3%), Rio Grande do Sul (10.8%) and Santa Catarina (8.3%). Four Federation Units reached negative results in the interannual comparison, with a highlight to: Mato Grosso (-6.8%), Roraima (-5.2%) and Sergipe (-2.0%).

As for extended retail trade, the comparison between January 2024 and January 2025 had positive results in 21 of the 27 Federation Units, among which stand out: Amapá (16.9%), Rio Grande do Sul (12.1%) and Santa Catarina (7.8%). On the other hand, six Federation Units accounted for a negative contribution, mainly Maranhão (-6.9%), Roraima (-4,9%) and Mato Grosso (-4.5%).