Brazilian retail sales volume inched up 0.1% month-over-month in August 2026, following a 0.8% decline in July and coming in well below market expectations for a 0.7% increase. Of the eight retail segments surveyed, six recorded gains.
The strongest advance was in office equipment and supplies, computers, and communications equipment, which jumped 6.3%. This was followed by other personal and household goods (+1.4%) and fuels and lubricants (+1.1%). Sales of pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic, and perfumery products rose 0.7%, fabrics, apparel, and footwear increased 0.6%, and books, newspapers, magazines, and stationery edged up 0.2%.
On the downside, furniture and household appliances posted a 4.2% drop, while hypermarkets, supermarkets, and food, beverages, and tobacco sales slipped 0.3%.
Extended retail sales—which include vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories, construction materials, and specialized wholesale trade in food, beverages, and tobacco—declined 0.2% in August. Compared with a year earlier, overall retail sales were up 0.4%, easing from a 1.3% increase in July.