The Trade Confidence Index (Icom) dropped 2.7 points in December this year, compared to the previous month. With this, the indicator, which measures the confidence of Brazilian businessmen in the sector, reached 85.3 points, the lowest level since April this year (84.1 points), according to data released today (28) by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV ).
In December, five of the six main segments of the sector had fall. The Current Situation Index, which measures confidence in the present, was the main responsible for the Icom’s retreat in the month, when it dropped 4.3 points and reached 84 points. The indicator goes from zero to 200.
The Expectations Index, which measures confidence in the future, dropped 0.9 points to 87.3 points. “Despite the improvement of the pandemic, the sector continues to feel the negative effects of low consumer confidence, slow recovery in the job market, high inflation and rising interest rates”, evaluates FGV economist Rodolpho Tobler.
