Brazil’s retail sales fell 1.5% month-over-month in April 2026, erasing gains from previous months and interrupting the strong momentum seen in the first quarter. Activity was broadly weak, with six of the eight surveyed segments posting declines. The sharpest contractions were recorded in fuels and lubricants (-6.2%), other personal and household goods (-4.6%), office equipment, IT and communication supplies (-4.5%), furniture and household appliances (-0.8%), textiles, apparel and footwear (-0.1%), and pharmaceutical and personal care products (-0.1%).
In contrast, supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco rose 1.3%, while books and stationery increased 1.1%. Regionally, 20 of Brazil’s 27 states registered declines, led by Piauí (-3.9%), Goiás (-3.8%), Santa Catarina (-3.6%), and Amazonas (-3.6%). Expanded retail sales slipped 0.7%. Despite the monthly setback, overall retail turnover was still up 1.0% compared with a year earlier.
