2025.04.0912:59:23UTC+00Retail Sales In Brazil Rise the Most in 5 Months

Retail sales in Brazil experienced a 0.5% increase month-over-month in February 2025, marking the most substantial rise in five months. This follows a revised 0.2% increase in January and aligns with the forecasted 0.5%. Sales in sectors such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, and food, beverage, and tobacco products saw a 1.1% rise, influenced by challenging macroeconomic factors like increasing inflation and a decrease in employment, which heightened the demand for essential goods. Additional sectors experienced positive growth: construction materials grew by 1.1%; furniture and household appliances by 0.9%; and pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic, and perfumery items by 0.3%. Conversely, there were declines in sales for textiles, clothing, and footwear (-0.1%); fuels and lubricants (-0.1%); computer and communication equipment and supplies (-4.2%); and books, newspapers, magazines, and stationery (-7.8%). On a year-on-year basis, retail sales increased by 1.5%, which is below the January figure of 3.1% and slightly under the anticipated 1.6% rise.