The economic indicators of Paraíba have returned to lead in the country. The sales volume of the retail trade had a growth of 14.1% in August over the same month of the previous year, reaching the highest rate among all units of the federation, according to data released on Thursday (11) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The average growth of the country was 4.1%.

Paraíba also led the growth rate of the country's sales volume, when compared to the previous month of July, with a high expressive of 7.5%, while the country registered a more shy high of 1.3%.

In the expanded retail, which includes construction material, vehicles and parts, growth reached 13.3% in August over the same month last year. Paraíba was only behind the Espírito Santo (15.8%), while the country had a high of 6.9%.

According to IBGE, the highest highs in the month were recorded in the clothing, footwear, vehicles, construction material and fuels sectors.

The manager of the monthly trade survey, Isabella Nunes, cited among the factors of influence for the discharge in August sales, in addition to the relative improvement in the labor market, the purchases for the Father's day and the release of the resources of the PIS/PASEP fund.

Ranking of the indicator – according to IBGE's research, the sales variation of the national retail trade of August of this year over the previous years rose in 23 of the 27 federative units, with emphasis on Paraíba (14.1%), Maranhão and Espírito Santo (both with 9.6%).

Among the states that showed a decline in sales, the highlights, in terms of magnitude, were observed in Amapá (-3.9%), Piauí (-2.7%) and Roraima (-2.4%).

Trade sales in August over July grew in 24 of the 27 federation units, with prominence for Paraíba (7.5%) and Acre (7.1%). The states of Tocantins (-2.0%) and Piauí (-0.5%) presented the only negative variations in the month.

August 2018 retail rates on August 2017

Source: PMC/IBGE