Coronavirus

Mothers’ Day could be first holiday to recoup pre-pandemic sales

mothers' day brazil
Stores in Salvador. Photo: Joa Souza/Shutterstock

The Brazilian retail sector hopes that Mothers’ Day on Sunday will be the first holiday since the beginning of the pandemic to match pre-coronavirus sales levels.

According to a survey carried out by the National Confederation of Shopkeepers and Brazil’s Credit Protection Service, 77 percent of consumers intend to shop for the occasion, on par with 2019. While gift prices are expected to be lower than last year, forecasts are that the holiday will generate BRL 24.3 billion, 19.7 percent more than 2020.

Highly affected by coronavirus restrictions — intensified in March 2021 — the retail sector still shows resilience, but the recovery is losing steam. Compared to February, the segment shrank 0.6 percentage points in March, according to official data.