Brazilian trade sales showed a growth of 2.4% in July, according to data from the IVS (Stone Retail Index), released on Monday (11). Compared to the same period last year, however, the indicator fell by 1.1%.
According to Guilherme Freitas, an economist and data scientist at Stone, the advance in the month indicates a partial recovery of the activity, but still insufficient to reverse the observed deceleration trend throughout the year.
“But this moderation seems to be more related to the loss of breath of economic activity than to a structural improvement in prices,” he says.
In the month, physical commerce registered up 0.7%, while digital fell 6.8%. In the annual comparison, the retraction was more pronounced in the online segment, with 18%drop, while in -person sales retreated 1.1%.
Five of the eight segments analyzed showed growth in July.
The highlight was the construction material sector, with a rise of 3.8%; followed by other personal and domestic articles (1.2%); pharmaceutical articles (1.1%); fuels and lubricants (0.8%); and fabrics, clothing and shoes (0.7%).
Already books, newspapers, magazines and stationery was dropped of 3.6%; while furniture and appliances retreated 0.2%.
The hypermarket sector, supermarkets, food products, beverages and smoke remained stable in the month.
According to the indicator, only nine of the analyzed states presented annual growth in sales, especially Acre (6.5%), Tocantins (6.4%) and Mato Grosso (4.3%).
“The Northern Region performed a large annual performance positive, indicating a warmer consumption dynamic. Already the South and Northeast regions recorded widespread drop, reflecting a still challenging economic environment in these locations, ”explained Freitas.
*Under the supervision of João Nakamura
