Brazil’s retail sales increased 0.5% month-over-month in March 2026, following a 0.7% gain in February and beating expectations of a flat reading. Retail activity was broadly positive, with five of the eight surveyed sectors posting growth. The strongest increases came from office equipment, IT and communication supplies (5.7%), fuels and lubricants (2.9%), other personal and household goods (2.9%), books and stationery (0.7%), and pharmaceutical and personal care products (0.1%). In contrast, furniture and household appliances fell 0.9%, while supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco declined 1.4%. Textiles, apparel and footwear were unchanged. Regionally, 19 of Brazil’s 27 states recorded gains, led by Maranh