Brazil: Retail sales drop in May
Retail sales (excluding cars and construction) fell 0.6% from the previous month in seasonally-adjusted terms in May, contrasting April’s revised 0.7% expansion (previously reported: +1.0% month-on-month). The result marked the first contraction in five months.
All subcategories of the index deteriorated in May, with sales of fuels and lubricants, and books, newspapers and stationary recording the sharpest declines. A nationwide truckers strike that took place at the end of the month likely also affected the result.
On an annual basis, retail sales increased 2.7% in May, a sharp improvement from April’s 0.6% rise. The trend, however, was stable in May, and annual average growth came in at April’s 3.7%.