Countering expectations of strong activity during Brazil’s hosting of the World Cup, retail sales fell sharply in July amid slow purchasing during the period. The IBGE statistics institute reported sales were down by 1.1% during the month, the sharpest monthly drop since 2008. Sales were down by 4.9% in comparison to July 2013. The result also marked the sixth consecutive month that sales registered declines. Researchers at the IBGE attributed the sharp drop to fewer working days during the month prompted by worker time off given during World Cup soccer games.  Sales of electric appliances showed the strongest decline, falling 4.1% in the period.  Supermarket sales fell by 1.3% during the period, while auto and construction sales rose by 0.8%. The continued sluggish sales came as Brazil continues to struggle to re-ignite economic growth. The IBGE in August reported that Brazil’s economy contracted by 0.6% in the second quarter, putting the country into a recession. Recent central bank market surveys show the economy expanding by about 0.5% this year after 2.3% growth seen in 2013.