Supermarkets see drop in sales after peak in early March

Sales in São Paulo supermarkets began to slow this week, down from the beginning of last month. The data indicate that there was a strong anticipation of purchases in stores, and the consumer, stocked with fear of coronavirus, reduced the trip to points of sale. The question for industry executives is whether this curve will rise and stabilize again – with customers returning to stores for stock replenishment – or whether the anticipation was so strong that the slowdown will intensify. Experts heard by Valor believe more in the first option. Data from Apas, the São Paulo supermarket association, show that on Monday, March 30, there was a 2.9% drop in sales compared to March 2, another Monday. It was the second consecutive period with retraction. In the Apas report for March 27-29, versus February 28 to February 31, the decline was more intense, at 7.7%. The slowdown and even retraction in demand was already expected by the market. "Now, sales are relatively at a normal pace and below the movement of the beginning of March," a statement from Apas summarizes.