Paraguay: Sales of goods and services fell in April

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Paraguay’s Central Bank (BCP) report states that the drop recorded in April is mainly explained by the negative performance of sales in the commerce, manufacturing, and services sectors.

Preliminary data from the Estimator of Business Figures (ECN) indicate that in April, there was a year-on-year variation of -6.1%, which brings the accumulated variation, after the fourth month of the year, to 0.5%.

On the other hand, the three-month moving average registered a year-on-year variation of 1.7%.

It points out that the result of the indicator is mainly explained by the negative performances registered in the sales of the commerce, manufacturing, and services sectors.

In commerce, says the report, there were reductions in the sales of agricultural inputs, fuels, food, household equipment products, and the sale and maintenance of vehicles. On the other hand, there was a favorable performance in the clothing sale.

In the manufacturing industry, the decreases in the sales of oils, mills and bakeries, metallic products, and non-metallic minerals stand out, while the sales of beverages and tobacco, chemicals, paper, and sugar verified positive variations, says the report.

Concerning services, unfavorable dynamics were verified in the branches of transport, telecommunications, and information services. Still, business services, real estate services, and hotels and restaurants increased sales, according to the BCP report.

Through the ECN, the central bank intends to provide short-term signals on the evolution of sales of some branches of economic activity (manufacturing industry, commerce, and other services) in aggregate terms.