Agência Brasil
Rio de Janeiro – Retail sales in general fell in 2003. Hypermarket and supermarket sales (which means food and beverages), were down 4.87% in 2003, compared to 2002. Fuel (gasoline, diesel and alcohol) sales dropped 4.29%.
According to the statistical bureau (IBGE), which announced the numbers, negative results in retail sales were due to "a retraction in wages that working people received."
There was one bright spot in the IBGE report: strong sales in December 2003. Furniture and Home Appliance sales rose a healthy 20.89% in December. Even supermarket sales rose in December, up 1.80% (compared to December 2002). The IBGE says easier credit at the end of the year, a tendency which characterized all of the second half of the year, gave sales a boost.
