In March 2026, the volume of sales of retail trade increased 0.5% from February this year, in the seasonally adjusted series. The quarterly moving average reached 0.6%.

Against March 2025, the volume of sales increased 4.0%. The cumulative index in the last 12 months was 1.8%. The cumulative index over the year was 2.4%.

As for extended retail trade, which includes Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, Construction material and Specialized wholesale trade of food products, beverages and tobacco, volume of sales changed 0.3% in March. Against the same month in 2025, there was an increase of 6.5%. The quarterly moving average was 0.8%.

The cumulative index in the last 12 months changed by 0.2%. In the year, increases amounted to 1.9%.

From February to March 2026, retail trade had a predominance of positive rates, reaching five of the eigh activities surveyed: Office, computer and communication equipment and material (5.7%), Fuels and lubricants (2,9%), Other personal and household articles (2.9%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationary (0.7%) and Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and toiletries (0.1%) recorded positive results. Two activities recorded negative results: Furniture and household appliances (-0.9%) and Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-1,4%). Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (0.0%) remained stable from February.

In the same comparison, extended retail trade, Construction material increased by 1.6% and Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces recorded a decrease (-0.6%) between February and March.

BRAZIL - INDICATORS OF VOLUME OF SALES OF RETAIL TRADE
AND EXTENDED RETAIL TRADE, BY GROUPS OF ACTIVITY: March 2026

Fom March 2025, all the eight activities recorded increase 

In the comparison between results of March 2026 and those in the same month last year, volume of sales increased in all the activities surveyed: Office, computer and communication equipment and material  (22.5%), Other personal and household articles  (11.1%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationary  (10.2%), Fuels and lubricants  (7.6%), Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and toiletries (7.1%), Furniture and household appliances (6.8%), Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (2.9%) and Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.9%). The overall increse was also observed in extended retail trade: Vehicles and motorcycle, parts and pieces (12.6%), Wholesale trade of food products, beverages and tobacco (8.7%) and Construction material (8.1%).

INDICATORS OF NOMINAL REVENUE OF SALES OF RETAIL TRADE
AND EXTENDED RETAIL TRADE, BY GROUPS OF ACTIVITY: March 2026

The group of Office, computer and communication equipment and material recorded an increase of 22.5% in sales from March 2025, after a change of 0.2% in February. The sector recorded the biggest increase among the eight surveyed ones. The year-on-year result of March is the second highest since the second semester of 2021, being surpassed by December 2025 (31.1% in December 2025). As a result, in the year, the cumulative result went from 3.0% up to February to 9.6% up to March. In the last twelve months, there has been acceleration of increase, with a change from 4.7% up to February to 6.7% up to March 2026.

As for Other personal and household articles, which encompasses department stores, jewelry shops, glasses' shops, sporting goods stores, toy stores, etc., the interannual indicator recorded an increase of 11.1% in March 2026, reversing the negative result of February (-4.9%). The sector accounted for the main contribution, together with fiels and lubricants, to the overall result, amounting to 0.9 p.p. of the total 4.0% of retail trade. The activity recorded a reversal of pace in relation to the cumulative figure, with a change from -1.4% up to February to 2.8% in the month  reference. There was acceleration cumulative in the year, with a change from 1.4% up to February to 2.8% up to March.

The sector of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationary recorded an increase, in March 2026, of 10.2% in sales from March 2025, the first increase since November 2025 (6.0%) and the biggest since January 2023 (18.3%). In the year, the sector had cumulative losses of 0.7% up to March, of lower magnitude than February (-3.7%). As for the indicator of the last twelve months, with the start of March, the sector started to  record increases, with a change from -1.1% up to February 2026 to +0.2% up to March. 

Fuels and lubricants grew 7.6% in sales volume from March 2025, the first positive result after two months of negative changes (-0.2% in both January and February). This sector accounted for 0.9 percentage points of the total 4.0% of retail trade, being the main contributor, along with Other personal and household articles. Regarding the year-to-date figures, the sector shows a reversal in its growth rate, going from -0.2% up to February to 2.5% in the reference month. Over the last twelve months, the result shows increases: 0.3% up to February and 0.8% up to March.

Pharmaceuticals, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries showed a 7.1% increase in sales compared to March 2025. This marks 37 consecutive months of increase: the last time there was a decline for the sector was in February 2023 (-0.5%). The increase contributed +0.7 percentage points to the total 4.0% for retail, the third biggest positive influence for the month of March. Therefore, the sector had a cumulative increase of 4.8% year-to-date through March against the same period in 2025. Over the last twelve months, the cumulative growth is also 4.8% through March, totaling 114 consecutive months of positive results for this indicator. 

Furniture and household appliances sector recorded a 6.8% increase in sales from March 2025, reversing the result of February (-1.4%) and resuming the positive trajectory experienced by the sector from July 2025 to January 2026. Regarding the year-to-date figures, the first quarter's result was 3.9%, increasing the pace of increase compared to February (2.5%). Over the last twelve months, gains up to March (4.2%) are similar to those of February (3.9%).

Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear showed a 2.9% increase in sales compared to March 2025, the first growth after a 5.8% drop in February. In the quarter, the sector had cumulative losses of 0.4% up to March, a smaller magnitude than up to February (-2.1%). Over twelve months, the scenario is one of increases: 0.4% up to February and 0.5% up to March.

For the fourth consecutive month, the Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food poducts, beverages and and tobacco showed year-on-year growth, registering a 0.9% increase between March 2026 and March 2025. Year-to-date, the cumulative growth is positive at 1.8% through March, with a downward trend over the first three months of 2026: 2.7% through January and 2.3% through February. Over the last twelve months, the value is also positive through March (1.1%), but with an accelerating gain over the last three months: 0.8% in January 2025 and 0.9% in February.

In terms of extended retail trade, Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces showed positive results (12.6%) when comparing March 2026 with March 2025, the first increase after a two-month period of decline. The sector contributed the most (2.3 p.p.) to the total (6.5%) of the eleven activities. In the year-to-date indicator, the sector shows a positive result in March (0.5%) for the first time since May 2025 (1.8%). In the last twelve months, however, the activity has cumulative losses of 3.9% up to March. 

Wholesale activity of food products, beverages, and tobacco registered an increase in March 2026 (8.7%) after a drop in February (-1.0%). This result positions the sector as the second largest contributor to the expanded retail sector: 1.2 percentage points of the total 6.5%. In 2026 through March, the activity had cumulative increases (3.4%), following a positive path for the third consecutive month. Over the last twelve months, the scenario is one of stability: 0.1% through March 2026.

Also within the expanded retail sector, the 8.1% result between March 2025 and March 2026 for Construction Materials was the first positive result, after two months of decline (-2.6% in January and -8.4% in February). Both in the accumulated year-to-date figures and over the last twelve months, the result, up to March, is negative: -1.0% for the year and -1.8% over the last twelve months. 

Retail trade showed positive rates in 19 of the 27 Brazilian states.

Compared to the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series, retail trade showed positive results in 19 of the 27 states, with Maranhão (3.8%), Amazonas (3.7%), and Piauí (3.5%) standing out. On the other hand, seven of the 27 states showed negative results, notably Bahia (-2.2%), Pernambuco (-2.0%), and São Paulo (-1.0%). Paraíba showed stability (0.0%)

In the same comparison, in extended retail trade, the change between January and February 2026 showed positive results in 17 of the 27 states, with Amazonas (8.4%), Roraima (5.6%), and Paraná (4.0%) standing out. On the other hand, putting negative pressure on the economy are 10 of the 27 Federative Units, with particular emphasis on Pernambuco (-2.1%), Mato Grosso do Sul (-1.2%) and Bahia (-1.0%)

Against March 2025, retail trade showed growth in 24 of the 27 Federation Units, with Pernambuco (14.2%), the Federal District (11.7%), and Rio Grande do Norte (9.4%) standing out. On the other hand, three of the 27 Federation Units exerted negative pressure: São Paulo (-0.8%), Pará (-0.7%), and Mato Grosso (-0.1%). For the same comparison, in the expanded retail trade, the variation between January and February 2026 had positive results in 26 of the 27 Federation Units, with Pernambuco (17.3%), Tocantins (15.1%), and Espírito Santo (13.7%) standing out. On the other hand, only São Paulo registered a decrease in the year-on-year indicator (-1.3%).

rente a março de 2025, o comércio varejista mostrou avanço em 24 das 27 Unidades da Federação, com destaque para Pernambuco (14,2%), Distrito Federal (11,7%) e Rio Grande do Norte (9,4%). Por outro lado, pressionando negativamente figuram três das 27 Unidades da Federação: São Paulo (-0,8%), Pará (-0,7%) e Mato Grosso (-0,1%). Para a mesma comparação, no comércio varejista ampliado, a variação entre janeiro e fevereiro de 2026 teve resultados positivos em 26 das 27 Unidades da Federação, com destaque para Pernambuco (17,3%), Tocantins (15,1%) e Espírito Santo (13,7%). Por outro lado, apenas São Paulo registrou queda no indicador interanual (-1,3%).