Bahia: Bahian retail sales grew 0.9%

In the accumulated result for the year, the rates were positive both in the state (3.8%) and in the country (1.9%). The increase in sales in April was driven by the base effect, the increase in wages and the deceleration of prices in some activities. However, the economic scenario is still uncertain due to high interest rates, persistent uncertainty, high debt levels and market defaults.

Economist Guidi Nunes points out that possibly trade may fall a little over the year, but tourism is still very strong to keep the state’s growth high.

“Bahia will be able to maintain this trade performance, at first, it decreases a little. If you take into account only this issue of the influence of the agricultural sector in Paraná and Bahia and the tourism sector in Bahia. Now, throughout the year, I hope that if these pace of growth in trade does not decrease so much, it will be able to maintain itself, at least in part, because of the government’s social policies, adjustment in the withholding tax, payment of social security , even this small issue is a bit of a stimulus to increase car sales, so there are some public policies at the national level to maintain this pace of trade a little”, he highlighted.

In April of this year, retail trade in Bahia showed sales growth in five of the eight segments analyzed compared to April 2022.

The segments that registered an increase in sales were fuels and lubricants, equipment and materials for the office, information technology and communication, pharmaceutical articles, hypermarkets, supermarkets, furniture and household appliances. However, the segments of books, newspapers, magazines and stationery, fabrics, clothing and footwear, and other articles for personal and domestic use had a negative performance.

Overall, hypermarkets, supermarkets and food products had a significant positive influence on sector sales, due to lower prices and essential products. On the other hand, the segment of other articles for personal and domestic use was negatively influenced by the decrease in consumer income. The segment of fabrics, clothing and footwear also had a negative impact due to the increase in prices in this area.