Self-employed confidence grows in February, with the retail sector standing out.
The index growth was most significant in the North + Central-West region, where there was a positive variation of 2 points.
247 - The Individual Microentrepreneur (MEI) Confidence Index registered growth in February of this year compared to the same period in 2024. According to a survey conducted by Sebrae in partnership with the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), the indicator showed an overall increase of 0,7 points, driven mainly by a 1,9-point rise in the confidence of businesses in the retail sector.
The index growth was most significant in the North and Central-West regions, where there was a positive variation of 2 points. The South and Northeast also showed progress, with 1,5 and 0,9 points, respectively. In the Southeast, the indicator remained stable. The president of Sebrae, Décio Lima, celebrated the results, highlighting the favorable economic context in the country.
"The economy is behavior. And this behavior reveals the optimistic moment our country is experiencing. This year, we have already reached the lowest unemployment rate in the last twelve years, at 6,8%. At the same time that Brazil is growing, it is generating a process of inclusion, which is boosting the country's economy. We are diversifying the economy," Lima stated.
The study also revealed significant differences between sectors. Besides commerce, which drove the index upwards, the services sector grew by 0,5 points. Meanwhile, the manufacturing industry was the only segment with a negative result, registering a drop of 0,9 points.
The stability in the Southeast region drew attention because it is the region with the highest concentration of individual micro-entrepreneurs in the country. Experts point out that, despite the optimistic scenario in other regions, the maintenance of the index suggests waiting for more concrete signs of economic recovery in the region.
Confidence index data
- Confidence Index compared to 2024:
IC-MEI General: +0,7 points
IC-MEI for Commerce: +1,9 points
IC-MEI Services: +0,5 points
IC-MEI for the Manufacturing Industry: -0,9 points - Trust by region:
North + Central-West: +2,0 points
South: +1,5 points
Northeast: +0,9 points
Southeast: 0,0 points
The index's performance reinforces the role of micro-entrepreneurship in the country's economic recovery, especially at a time of inclusion and reduced unemployment. Expectations are now focused on the coming months, with attention paid to the effects of a more robust economy and the potential recovery of the manufacturing industry.