Reduction in the tax on manufactured goods (IPI) produces good results for furniture manufacturers in Bento Gonçalves

The  temporary  reduction  in  the  IPI  on  furniture  announced  on  March  26    in  effect until next Saturday, 30, has produced good results for the furniture industry in Bento  Gonçalves. The partial data for April and May showed an 8% growth in sales compared to the same period in 2011. In May, the turnover amounted to R$ 213,110,000, which represented a nominal increase of 10.7% compared to May last year. With  these  data,  the  furniture  center  in  Bento  Gonçalves  reported  in  the  first  five  months  of  the  year,  a  nominal  growth  of  11.1%  compared  to  last  year,  which  was  higher than the 8.6% figure achieved by the furniture industry in Rio Grande do Sul. According to Cátia Scarton, president of Sindmóveis, the reduction in the IPI enabled  the  growth  of  the  furniture  sector  overcoming  the  current  economic  hardships  felt  in  other  segments  of  the  industry.  Cátia  stresses  the  importance  to  extend  the  exemption  until  September:  “The  extension  is  crucial  for  us  to  continue  contributing  to demand  for  furniture  proven  by  the  growth  of  the  retail  sector,  also  so  that  we  can  compete with imported products,” she said.