São Paulo retail has best Christmas in 10 years
Valor Econômico - 12/27/2007
Consumers did not spare any money this Christmas and the expectations of greater growth in sales compared to last year were confirmed. The Serasa Indicator concerning the Level of Commercial Activity registered an increase of 9.9% in sales in the entire Country in the period from December 21st to 23rd, in comparison to 2006. In the city of São Paulo, the growth was even bigger, 12.8%, in the same comparison. According to technicians from Serasa, the registered sales may be considered good, since the growth has taken place over a strong base. In 2006, the increase of sales during the Christmas weekend was 9%. The results from the São Paulo retail segment from the 1st to the 25th of December have already guaranteed that this is the best Christmas in sales of last ten years, according to the Commercial Association of São Paulo (ACSP). The increase in the sales movement in the period was 7.9%, according to a survey of the entity, based on the consultations made to the Credit Protection Service (SCPC) and to UseCheque. This is the fourth consecutive year of increase in the Christmas sales in São Paulo. Among the factors that contributed the most in 2007, were the greater volume of credit and the fall of interest rates in relation to 2006 and low dollar rate.