Overview of Sales Performance
The same-store sales – those with more than a year of operation – of the retail chains increased by 7.6% in August compared to the same month in 2024, according to data from the National Association of Supermarkets and Department Stores (ANTAD).
August’s sales performance is the highest for any given month since 2022, when an increase of 11.5% was also recorded. It is the second-highest monthly growth, following May’s 10.3% increase.
Total Stores Growth
According to ANTAD’s monthly report, the growth for total stores, which includes all branches including those opened in the past 12 months, was 10.1% during the period of comparison.
Economist’s Perspective
Saidé Salazar, principal economist at BBVA Research, attributes the increase in August sales to back-to-school shopping. However, he considers this growth could be temporary.
ANTAD President’s Outlook
In a recent radio interview, ANTAD President Diego Cosío anticipates better retail consumption performance in the last quarter of this year, driven by events like El Buen Fin and the Christmas season.
July vs August: A Turnaround
The positive performance in August follows a July environment where consumer spending was still weak, and unfavorable weather conditions in several regions of the country limited store traffic, as previously explained by Actinver Casa de Bolsa senior analyst Antonio Hernández.
Department Stores Lead the Way
According to the format, department stores showed the highest growth in both same-store and total-store sales, while the self-service segment demonstrated the least dynamism.
- Department Stores: Chains like El Palacio de Hierro, Liverpool, Sears, and Coppel reported an increase of 16.8% in same-store sales and 18.3% in total-store sales for August.
- Specialty Stores: Including Farmacia Benavides, The Home Depot, Modelorama, and Petco, these stores saw a 3.9% increase in same-store sales and a 7.4% increase in total-store sales.
- Self-Service Stores: Members of ANTAD such as Chedraui, La Comer, Soriana, and Alsuper displayed a 3.2% variation in same-store sales and a 5.6% increase in total-store sales.
Sales Trends from January to August
ANTAD reported a 3.6% growth in same-store sales and a 6.2% increase in total-store sales from January to August of this year.
August’s total sales amounted to 139,900 million pesos, and the accumulated sales in the first eight months of the year totaled 1,057.2 billion pesos.
Sales Amid Inflation
Despite inflation reaching 3.57% in August, slightly above July’s 3.51%, sales of ANTAD-associated businesses performed favorably in August, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).
ANTAD’s Sales Projection for the Year
The National Association of Supermarkets and Department Stores estimates a 3.9% growth in same-store sales and a 6.5% increase in total-store sales for the year.
