Supermarket sector recorded growth of 3.47% in the first half

The first half was positive for the supermarket sector, which recorded real growth (deflated by the IPCA/IBGE) of 3.47%, from January to June, according to the National Sales Index of the Brazilian Supermarket Association (ABRAS), calculated by the Department of Economics and Research of the entity, and released on Wednesday (12).
The result was the best for the semester of the last 8 years. In June, supermarkets rose 2.78% compared to the same period last year. Compared to May 2020, there was a real drop of -4.82% in sales.
"The results of the semester were influenced by many factors. In the first two months of the year we had very positive numbers and February had an extra day, because it was leap year. In March came the pandemic, and with social isolation the consumer prioritized supply purchases, increased the average ticket to avoid going to supermarkets, and this extended to the months of April and May, also driven by the anticipations of holidays. From June this movement began to normalize. We also had the consequences of the increase in credit in the country, which directly impacts the purchasing power of the population, with emergency aid, release of the FGTS, anticipation of the first installment of the 13th of retirees, among others", declares João Sanzovo.
"In relation to the result of June compared to May, the drop was already expected. Some cities have begun to enter the yellow phase of the pandemic, and consumers have normalized their purchases, failing to stock up, and going to supermarkets more often. In addition, in the State of São Paulo, which has a great impact on the country's sales, the Corpus Christi holiday was brought forward to May," he said.
Although optimistic, the president of ABRAS sees cautiously the coming months. "Unlike São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, in many parts of the country the pandemic arrived more strongly in July, and the sector has also suffered from restrictions in opening hours in many cities. And the end of emergency aid, scheduled for September, will have a major impact on credit."
ABRAS's initial target, released in February, is 3.9% growth in 2020. As happens annually, the national entity is evaluating whether to review the projection of the year or maintain the estimate.
- Abrasmercado
In June, Abrasmercado* recorded a 1.46% increase compared to May, from R$ 534.48 to R$ 542.27. In the 12 months (June 2019/June 2020), the value of the basket rose 11.33%. The largest decreases in prices were recorded in the products: tomato, -17.02%, frozen chicken, -3.04%, tomato extract, -2.63%, onion, -2.39%, and egg -2.34%. The highest increases were in the following items: mozzarella cheese, 10.93%, beans, 9.44%, front meat (amen, termite, palette, muscle, among others.), 5.12%, cheese dish, 5.03%, and rice, 4.01%.
*The Abrasmercado basket is not the basic basket, but a basket composed of 35 products most consumed in supermarkets: food, including beer and soda, hygiene, beauty and household cleaning.
- Regions
In June, all Brazilian regions showed a high in the price of the Abrasmercado basket. The Northern Region had the highest positive change, 2.02%, and went from R$ 587.92 in May to R$ 599.79 in June.
- Confidence Index
The supermarket entrepreneur is more optimistic about the coming months, according to the Supermarket Confidence Index, prepared by ABRAS in partnership with GfK. In June, the survey recorded 61.0 points (on a scale from 0 to 100). In the previous evaluation, calculated in April, the index was at 55.2 points.