Consumer goes shopping again and cheers retail up
DCI - 05/12/2009
Retail chains have already noticed the first signs that the economic crisis is taking slower steps and that the consumer has gone back shopping. That perception is pointed by studies like the one made by the Álvares Penteado School of Commerce Foundation (Fecap) that is responsible for the Fecap Business Expectation Index (Ifecap), which measures the perspective of the commercial sector of São Paulo. This month, the index had a 4.5% increase compared to last month. Besides the index, DCI has verified the retail chains have seen the return of the customers to the stores.
The São Paulo Cybelar, with 65 units spread throughout the interior of the state, keeps the expansion plans of having another 8 units this year - 3 have already been opened. Ubirajara José Pasquotto, officer, says the businesses have not resumed the levels of 2008. "The feeling is that the critical phase has passed. The reduction of the IPI (Excise Tax) was very intelligent and, therefore, compared to 2008, there was a 20% increase in the sale of these products". Regarding electronic consumption goods, Pasquotto sees the consumer is going through a process of replacement of the CRT TV for LCD and plasma devices. Another factor that cheers up the officer of the interior chain is that the intention of consumers to buy furniture in the second half of this year has gone up. The perception is not different in the shoe sector. Operating in six municipalities of the Vale do Paraíba, the Oscar Calçados Chain, with 39 stores (25 of its own and the rest in franchises), had a zero growth forecast for this year, but the panorama should change after Mothers' Day. "The forecast was only to remodel the stores instead of increasing their number, but we will review the plans", announces to the officer José Oscar Constantino. For him, this year's March was bad, but the sales started increasing already in April. The Fecap Business Expectation Index (Ifecap) of the Álvares Penteado School of Commerce Foundation, calculated by the professor of economics and coordinator of the index, André Chagas, registered improvement this month and achieved 106 points, a 4.5% increase compared to the previous month. He told the perception of the businessmen of the capital of São Paulo is one of improvement in sales. Chagas analyzes that regardless of the increase of unemployment, the number of people working continues at good levels and the capacity to pay installments has been maintained.