Cristiane Ribeiro
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - After two years of falling revenue, there was 11.7% growth in income in the commerce sector in 2004, compared to 2003. That was the largest increase since 1996, when the government statistical bureau (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) (IBGE) began its Annual Commercial Survey (Pesquisa Anual do Comércio). The IBGE report shows that the commerce sector had total revenue of US$353 billion in 2004.

According to the IBGE, sales got a boost from the introduction of flex-fuel cars (which run on gasoline and ethanol).

The survey found 1.38 million businesses in Brazil, up 9.1%, compared to 2003.

Translation: Allen Bennett