CHOCOLATE PRICE FALLS 8% and sales of EASTER SHOULD BE the best in FIVE YEARS

In the accounts of the National Trade Confederation (CNC), the date should move R $2.2 billion in 2018 and registering a growth of 3.5%. If the forecast is confirmed, will be the biggest change in sales from 2013. At Easter last year, there was a slight growth of 1.1%, after two straight years in the red because of the recession. "What's behind this recovery is low inflation", says the Chief Economist of CNC, Fabio Bentes. Their calculations were based on the trade performance on the date, the growth projections of retail sales this year and the price behavior of an Easter basket. The basket, based on data calculated by the consumer price index Broad -15 of the IBGE, the prior official inflation, includes 12 items, including products and services consumed at Easter. The highlight of this year is 8% drop in the price of chocolate, accumulated in 12 months through February at the IPCA-15. "It is the smallest price variation chocolate since 2006", Bentes. He explains that the stable dollar contributed to the deflation over the past 12 months, chocolate. The price of chocolate weighs Exchange because the main raw materials of the product, cocoa, is quoted in dollars. Bentes also reminds that, because of the increased taxation on the chocolate product prices have risen. In 2016, the chocolate was 13.3% more expensive and in 2017 high was 14.6%. This year, this effect disappeared. In 12 months up to February this year, the inflation basket of Easter products and services, calculated by the CNC, was 5.1%. Bentes explains that, although inflation 2018 Easter is not so low as to 2017, which was 4.5%, the flagship of the sales data, which is chocolate, is in deflation. And that's the difference this year, which should boost sales. Another highlight of the job study of CNC this year is the use of temporary workers. In the accounts of the Economist, were hired to date this year temporary 10600, virtually the same number of Easter last year (10500). With the prospect of retail sales growth for this year of 5.2%, according to the CNC, before 4% in 2017, Bentes designs that the absorption of temporary workers will be greater in 2018 and should reach 7.7%. "The rate of absorption of the temporary in 2018 is higher in three years." He recalls that, in terms of utilization of labor, 2016 was the worst year since 2010, when 6.7% of temporary workers have become effective. In addition to improving economic scenario, the Economist believes that the labor reform CNC must give a "push" on temporary absorption this year. That's because she has reduced the cost of formal employment.