Overview

• The Abrasel-Stone index reports a 4.9% month-on-month drop and a 3.9% year-on-year decline in September after three months of stability.
• A late-September methanol contamination scare reduced visits, with 41 confirmed intoxication cases and eight deaths reported by authorities, so September figures capture only part of the shock.
• Food-away-from-home inflation rose 8.24% over 12 months versus 5.17% overall inflation, and high household indebtedness plus slower formal job creation curbed discretionary spending.
• Only Maranhão (+2.6%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (+1%) posted annual sales growth, while states such as Roraima (-11.5%), Pará (-9.9%), and Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina (both -7.6%) saw the steepest declines.
• Abrasel says no contaminated bottles were identified in bars or restaurants and has enrolled over 15,000 businesses in new beverage-safety training, while inspections are expected to make the contamination impact short-lived.