Lula says ending bets boosted Brazil's economy as published indicators show declines
Regulation1 min read
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said in a national address on 8 November that ending bets had increased household consumption, retail sales and industrial output. The source's fact-check cites a 2.1% year-on-year fall in October retail sales and a 0.8% monthly decline in industrial production in September 2026; the October industrial figure was due in December.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said ending betting had increased household consumption, retail sales and industrial output, although the available retail and industrial figures showed declines.
The IGet indicator, produced by Santander and Getnet, showed Brazilian retail sales fell 2.1% in October from a year earlier. Sales rose 0.2% from September. October was the first full month without betting.
IBGE data showed industrial production fell 0.8% in September 2026 from the previous month. It was the fourth decline in five months. Output fell 2.5% from September 2025, the largest annual decline since March 2024. The cumulative decline since May was 4.1%, nearly offsetting growth in the first four months of the year. IBGE was due to release the October figure in December.
A survey by supermarket association ABRAS found food retail sales rose 6.5% in the week of 5 to 11 October and 6.3% the following week, compared with the equivalent weeks in 2025. The deadline for bettors to withdraw platform balances fell on 5 October. Children's Day fell on a Monday in 2026, creating a long weekend after the measured week, whereas it fell on a Sunday in 2025. Scanntech said food retail sales fell 3.6% in October 2025. ABRAS did not provide methodological controls beyond comparisons with previous years.