Self-service food sales grew 2.24% in 2014

The supermarket sector showed real growth of 2.24% in 2014 in comparison with the previous year, according to the national index, sales of Abras (Brazilian Association of Supermarkets), disclosed this Tuesday (27/01). In 2013, the sector had increased 5.36 percent and in 2012, 5.30%. In the assessment of the Association, while growth has been lower than in 2013, the sales result in 2014 was positive, mainly by the overall performance of the Brazilian economy. The maintenance of employment – which kept the unemployment rate at a low level during the whole year – allowed industry sales grow above GDP. The initial expectation of a 2% growth in real income in 2015. In December, sales at actual values, deflated by the IPCA/IBGE (national consumer price Index Broad), the Brazilian Institute of geography and statistics, presented high of 20.62% compared to the immediately preceding month and high of 2.94% in comparison with the same month in 2013. In December 2014, the Abrasmercado basket 35 wide consumption products, researched by GfK and analyzed by the Department of Economics and research of Open, presented high of 0.76% compared to November, reaching R $ 381,12. Year to date (January to December) surged basket of 5.76% as compared to the same period in 2013. The products with the highest high in December compared to November were: potato, beans, onion and tomato paste. The largest falls were driven by: tomato, long-life milk, cheese and mozzarella cheese. The basket of the Southeast was the one that showed the highest high, 2.16%, reaching the amount of r $ 368,57. Already in the northern region, showed the biggest fall, -1.07%, registering $ 424,72.