Retail has 13th consecutive month of growth

Agência Brasil

Retail sales increased in 14 of Brazil's 27 states in the March-April period

 Retail trade grew 3% in the first four months of 2018 compared to December 2017. In last-twelve-month terms, the sector has grown by 3.7%, slightly down from the 3.8% in March in the same basis of comparison. April saw a 1% increase in comparison with the previous month, making for 13 consecutive months of increase in sales.

The information comes from the Monthly Retail Survey, released on Wednesday (13 June) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The survey is national and produces indicators that allow the country to monitor how the retail trade is doing by looking into the gross revenue earned from resale by formal enterprises with 20 or more employees.

The survey covers eight categories: office and computing equipment and materials; fuels and lubricants; pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic, perfumery and cosmetics items; hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco; books, newspapers, magazines and stationery; furniture and household appliances; fabrics, clothing and footwear and other articles of personal and domestic use.

According to IBGE, between March and April 2018, retail sales advanced in 14 of Brazil's 27 states. Compared to April 2017, 16 states saw positive results. "Considering the trade sector as a whole, compared to April 2017, all 27 states showed positive changes in sales volume in April 2018," the institute said in a statement.