Retail sales advance 0.9% in April, fourth consecutive high, says IBGE

Sales in the Brazilian retail trade advanced 0.9% in April compared to March, informed the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) this Friday (10th). This is the fourth consecutive monthly increase in the sector, which accumulates an increase of 2.3% from January to April.

In relation to April 2021, the growth was 4.5%, and, in the last 12 months, 0.8%.

Market analysts had expected a rise of 0.4% from one month to the next and 2.6% year over year.

Despite registering its fourth consecutive month of increase, activity is showing a slowdown, the institute points out.

“The four months of the year were positive, but on a downward trajectory: from 2.4% in January to 0.9% in April. Growth is consistent but uneven. As a whole, retail trade is 4.0% above the pre-pandemic level in February 2020. But among activities it is uneven”, says Cristiano Santos, research manager, in a note.

Half of the eight activities evaluated in the survey registered an increase in the volume of sales in April compared to March. The positive highlights were: Furniture and household appliances (2.3%), Textiles, clothing and footwear (1.7%), Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic and perfumery articles (0.4%) and Other articles for personal and domestic use (0.1%).

Among the activities above the pre-pandemic level, Santos highlights Pharmaceutical articles (17.7%), Construction material (9.1%) and Other articles of personal and domestic use (7.3%). Below the pre-pandemic level are Office equipment and supplies (-11.7%), Furniture and appliances (-10.7%), Fabrics, apparel and footwear (-8.6%).

In the expanded retail trade, which includes, in addition to retail, the activities of vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and construction material, the volume of sales increased by 0.7% compared to March.

*In update