trade sales and those of the industry were discouraged in February, which may be another sign of the economic slowdown in the country.
In the case of manufacturing activity, what was traded was in negative territory. According to Dane, this variable stood at -1.1% in February.
(See: Industry sales enter negative territory).
For its part, the real production of the national industry registered a variation of 0.4%, while that of the personnel employed by this sector reached 1.3%, when compared with the same month of 2022.
The report indicates that of the 39 industrial activities represented by the survey, a total of 15 registered positive variations in their real production, adding 3.6 percentage points to the total annual variation and 24 subsectors with negative variations they overall subtracted 3.3 percentage points from the total variation.
(See: After 3 months, factory orders, production and employment rose).
The highest negative variations were registered in Manufacture of travel articles, handbags and similar leather articles with 40.8%. Similarly, in this activity, the decrease in sales stood out with 38.7%.
Production also fell in Basic Industries of precious and non-ferrous metals with 26.9%, in Manufacture of other types of transport equipment (18.4%), Manufacture of basic chemical substances and their products (16.5%) and Manufacture of footwear (11.7%), to name a few.
For its part, in the course of the year until February 2023, the real production of the manufacturing industry presented a variation of 0.4%, real sales of -0.3% and employed personnel of 1.4%.
In the first two months of the year, of the 39 industrial activities represented by the survey, a total of 18 registered positive variations in their real production, adding 4.2 percentage points to the total year-to-date variation.
In turn, the 21 subsectors that showed negative variations jointly subtracted 3.9 percentage points from the total variation, according to what the monthly report from the statistical authority shows.
(See: Automation would not replace jobs in the industry).
According to Dane, in February 2023, they barely increased 0.1% and employed personnel grew 4.3% compared to the same month in 2022.
Excluding fuel trade, the variation in real sales for the sector was 1.4%.
The report delivered by Dane shows that 11 lines of merchandise registered positive annual variations in their real sales and, on the other hand, eight lines of merchandise registered negative annual variations in their sales.
The greatest positive contributions to the annual variation were presented in the lines of other motor vehicles and motorcycles and alcoholic beverages, cigars, cigarettes and tobacco products, contributing together 1.5 percentage points to the total variation of retail trade.
(See: This is the precious resource for which the US and China compete).
Meanwhile, the main negative contribution occurs in fuels for motor vehicles, contributing -1.0 percentage points.
If the results of February 2023 are compared with those of February 2019, an increase of 20.9% in retail sales is evident, and in relation to employed personnel, a growth of 2.4%.
For its part, in the two-month period, which is the period that includes the months of January and February 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, retail trade sales increased just 0.7%.
In this period, thirteen merchandise lines of this activity registered positive variations in their real sales, while another six lines registered negative variations.
The lines with the greatest positive contribution to trade so far this year, up to February, were other motor vehicles and motorcycles, alcoholic beverages, cigars, cigarettes and tobacco products, spare parts, accessories and lubricants for vehicles, and automotive products. personal hygiene, cosmetics and perfumery, with contributions of 0.3 percentage points each.
In the bimonthly balance on the performance of retail trade, the main negative contribution was registered in the line of motor vehicles and motorcycles mainly for household use, with a variation of -5.7%.
BRIEFCASE
