Supermarket sales surge in July on low prices, rise in jobs

Sales in the critical supermarket industry surged 3.47% in July against the same month a year ago on low food prices and continued job creation, the Brazilian Supermarket Association (Abras) said Thursday.

Supermarket sales for the first seven months of the year were up even more, 5.26%, the association said.

Supermarket sales rose in July as food prices fell, in nominal terms, on the annual grain and oilseeds harvest.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s economy continued to produce new jobs and higher salaries as the country reached for 6% annual growth in 2010.