Interest, debt and credit decline: why retail revenue in the Campinas region fell after a series of increases

Campinas sees drop in retail revenue in the first months of 2026 Retail revenue in the region of Campinas (SP) fell 0.8% between January and April 2026, after two years of increases in the sector, according to a survey by the Federation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism of the State of São Paulo (FecomercioSP). A negative result interrupts a growth sequence. In 2024, the sale of products and services to the end consumer increased by 8.9%. The increase in 2025 was 8.1% in the Campinas region. What explains the retreat? Fercomércio's economic advisor, Bruno de Souza, lists three main factors that help explain the retraction: "The first is the drop in consumer credit, it is more restrictive credit. The second is the higher interest rate and the third is household debt", he states. Change in consumer behavior: with a tight budget, residents research prices more and prioritize essential items. Therefore, the biggest drops in sales occurred in the household appliances, electronics and construction materials sectors. State of São Paulo The decline in retail revenue in the Campinas region, however, was smaller than the average for the state of São Paulo, which recorded a drop of 5.1%. The data comes from a survey by the Federation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism of the State of São Paulo (FecomercioSP). People looking at clothes in a store, on 13 de Maio, in Campinas. EPTV Reproduction Despite the decline in the four-month period, the beginning of 2026 still represents the second best result for the period since the beginning of the survey in 2008. After falls in January and February, trade in the region returned to growth in March and April, driven by sales of vehicles, pharmacies and supermarkets. Experts believe that it is necessary to wait for the next few months to confirm whether the recovery will continue. In vehicle stores, the scenario is optimistic. The manager of a local dealership, Ademir Júnior, reports that sales grew 30% in the last year.