Brazil: Retail sales growth moderates in August
Retail sales (excluding cars and construction) rose 0.1% from the previous month in seasonally-adjusted terms in August, below July’s revised 0.5% increase (previously reported: +1.0% month-on-month).
The modest increase was largely driven by rising sales of office, computer and communication equipment. In contrast, four of the eight subcomponents recorded falling sales in August, with the bulk of the decline driven by a marked drop in sales of fuels and lubricants.
On an annual basis, retail sales rose 1.3% in August, which was down from July’s revised 4.3% increase (previously reported: +4.4% year-on-year). Meanwhile, annual average growth in retail sales inched down to 1.4% in August from 1.6% in July.