Tracking state GDP components with IBGE data

Overview

This vignette demonstrates how to query IBGE aggregate tables that serve as short-term tracking indicators for state-level GDP components — particularly in services, retail, manufacturing, and construction.

The workflow is always the same:

Inspect metadata with ibge_metadata() to discover available variables, classifications, and categories.
Fetch data with ibge_variables(), specifying aggregate, variable, classification, localities, and periods.
Post-process the value column with parse_ibge_value() and convert period codes to proper dates.

Note on value: the IBGE API may return special symbols ("-", "..", "...", "X") instead of numbers. Always use parse_ibge_value() to convert reliably.

Setup

library(ibger)
library(dplyr)
library(tidyr)
library(ggplot2)
library(lubridate)
library(stringr)

Helper: convert period codes to dates

IBGE returns periods as character codes: "202501" for monthly data (January 2025) and "202501" for quarterly data (Q1 2025). We need format-specific converters:

# Monthly periods: "202501" -> 2025-01-01
period_to_monthly <- function(x) ym(x)

# Quarterly periods: "202501" -> 2025-01-01
# lubridate::yq() expects "2025.1", so we reformat first
period_to_quarterly <- function(x) {
  yr <- substr(x, 1, 4)
  qt <- as.integer(substr(x, 5, 6))
  as.Date(paste0(yr, "-", qt * 3 - 2, "-01"))
}

1) IPCA (7060) — Health insurance

The IPCA (consumer price index) aggregate 7060 is the main source for inflation tracking. Here we compare the general index against the health insurance sub-item for the Recife Metropolitan Area.

1.1 Discovering the right IDs

meta_7060 <- ibge_metadata(7060)

# Find classification categories matching "Plano" (health plan) or "Índice" (index)
unnest(meta_7060$classifications, categories) |>
  filter(str_detect(category_name, "Plano|Índice")) |>
  select(id, category_id, category_name, category_level)

# Available variables
meta_7060$variables

Reading the output:

id is the classification ID (e.g. "315").
category_id is the category ID within that classification (e.g. "7169" for General index).
In ibge_variables(), pass classification = list("315" = c("7169", "7695")) to request both categories simultaneously.

1.2 Fetching the data

ipca_health <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 7060,
  variable = 63,                          # IPCA - Monthly variation
  periods = -12,
  classification = list(
    "315" = c("7169", "7695")             # General index + Health insurance
  ),
  localities = "N7[2601]"                 # Recife Metropolitan Area
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_315, locality_name, value)

1.3 Wide format for inspection

ipca_health |>
  pivot_wider(
    id_cols    = c(period, locality_name),
    names_from = classification_315,
    values_from = value
  ) |>
  arrange(desc(period))

1.4 Plot

ipca_health |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value, color = classification_315)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "IPCA — Health insurance vs General index",
    subtitle = "Recife Metropolitan Area, monthly variation (%)",
    x = NULL, y = "Monthly variation (%)", color = NULL
  ) +
  theme_minimal() +
  theme(legend.position = "bottom")

2) IPCA (7060) — Vehicle insurance

Same logic — only the category changes in classification "315".

# Find category ID for "Seguro" (insurance)
unnest(meta_7060$classifications, categories) |>
  filter(str_detect(category_name, "Seguro|Índice")) |>
  select(id, category_id, category_name)

ipca_vehicle_ins <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 7060,
  variable = 63,
  periods = -12,
  classification = list("315" = c("7169", "7643")),  # General + Vehicle insurance
  localities = "N7[2601]"
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_315, locality_name, value)

ipca_vehicle_ins |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value, color = classification_315)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "IPCA — Vehicle insurance vs General index",
    subtitle = "Recife Metropolitan Area, monthly variation (%)",
    x = NULL, y = "Monthly variation (%)", color = NULL
  ) +
  theme_minimal() +
  theme(legend.position = "bottom")

3) PMS (8693) — Transportation and postal services

The Monthly Survey of Services (PMS) aggregate 8693 is a proxy for service-sector activity. Here we filter by:

Index type (classification 11046): revenue vs volume indices
Activity group (classification 12355): transportation, storage and postal services

meta_8693 <- ibge_metadata(8693)

# Browse classifications and categories
unnest(meta_8693$classifications, categories)
meta_8693$variables

pms_transport <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 8693,
  variable = 7167,                          # Index number (2022 = 100)
  periods = -12,
  classification = list(
    "11046" = "all",                        # All index types (revenue + volume)
    "12355" = "106876"                      # Transportation/postal services
  ),
  localities = "N3[26]"                     # Pernambuco
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_11046, locality_name, value)

pms_transport |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value, color = classification_11046)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "PMS — Index numbers (2022 = 100)",
    subtitle = "Transportation, storage and postal services (Pernambuco)",
    x = NULL, y = "Index (2022 = 100)", color = NULL
  ) +
  theme_minimal() +
  theme(legend.position = "bottom")

4) PNAD Contínua (5434) — Accommodation and food services

The Continuous PNAD aggregate 5434 provides quarterly employment data (persons aged 14+ employed) by activity group.

meta_5434 <- ibge_metadata(5434)
unnest(meta_5434$classifications, categories)
meta_5434$variables

pnad_accommodation <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 5434,
  variable = 4090,                          # Employed persons (thousands)
  periods = -12,                            # Last 12 quarters
  classification = list("888" = "56623"),   # Accommodation and food services
  localities = "N3[26]"                     # Pernambuco
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_quarterly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_888, locality_name, value)

pnad_accommodation |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "PNAD Contínua — Employed persons (14+)",
    subtitle = "Accommodation and food services (Pernambuco, thousands)",
    x = NULL, y = "Employed (thousands)"
  ) +
  theme_minimal()

5) PMS (8693) — Professional and administrative services

Same aggregate as section 3, switching only the activity category in classification 12355:

pms_professional <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 8693,
  variable = 7167,
  periods = -12,
  classification = list(
    "11046" = "all",
    "12355" = "31399"                       # Professional/administrative services
  ),
  localities = "N3[26]"
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_11046, locality_name, value)

pms_professional |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value, color = classification_11046)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "PMS — Index numbers (2022 = 100)",
    subtitle = "Professional and administrative services (Pernambuco)",
    x = NULL, y = "Index (2022 = 100)", color = NULL
  ) +
  theme_minimal() +
  theme(legend.position = "bottom")

6) PNAD Contínua (5434) — Domestic services

pnad_domestic <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 5434,
  variable = 4090,
  periods = -12,
  classification = list("888" = "56628"),   # Domestic services
  localities = "N3[26]"
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_quarterly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_888, locality_name, value)

pnad_domestic |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "PNAD Contínua — Employed persons (14+)",
    subtitle = "Domestic services (Pernambuco, thousands)",
    x = NULL, y = "Employed (thousands)"
  ) +
  theme_minimal()

7) PIM-PF (8888) — Industrial production (selected CNAE sectors)

The PIM-PF (Monthly Industrial Survey — Physical Production) aggregate 8888 covers manufacturing output. Classification 544 filters by industrial activity (CNAE sections).

meta_8888 <- ibge_metadata(8888)
unnest(meta_8888$classifications, categories)
meta_8888$variables

pim_selected <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 8888,
  variable = 12606,                         # Index number (2022 = 100)
  periods = -12,
  classification = list(
    "544" = c(129318, 129338)               # Beverages; Motor vehicles
  ),
  localities = "N3[26]"
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_544, locality_name, value)

pim_selected |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value, color = classification_544)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "PIM-PF — Index numbers (2022 = 100)",
    subtitle = "Beverages and Motor vehicles (Pernambuco)",
    x = NULL, y = "Index (2022 = 100)", color = NULL
  ) +
  theme_minimal() +
  theme(legend.position = "bottom")

8) Construction (8886) — Typical construction inputs

meta_8886 <- ibge_metadata(8886)
meta_8886$variables

construction <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 8886,
  variable = 12606,                         # Index number (2022 = 100)
  periods = -12,
  localities = "N1"                         # Brazil
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, locality_name, value)

construction |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "Construction — Typical inputs (physical production)",
    subtitle = "Brazil, index number (2022 = 100)",
    x = NULL, y = "Index (2022 = 100)"
  ) +
  theme_minimal()

9) PMC (8884 / 8757 / 8880) — Retail trade indices

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey (PMC) publishes volume and revenue indices across different retail segments. The three aggregates below follow the same pattern — classification 11046 selects the index type (volume vs nominal revenue).

9.1 Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories (8884)

meta_8884 <- ibge_metadata(8884)
unnest(meta_8884$classifications, categories)
meta_8884$variables

pmc_vehicles <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 8884,
  variable = 7169,                          # Index number (2022 = 100)
  periods = -12,
  classification = list("11046" = 56738),   # Volume index
  localities = "N3[26]"
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_11046, locality_name, value)

pmc_vehicles |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "PMC — Sales volume index (2022 = 100)",
    subtitle = "Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and accessories (Pernambuco)",
    x = NULL, y = "Index (2022 = 100)"
  ) +
  theme_minimal()

9.2 Construction materials (8757)

pmc_construction <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 8757,
  variable = 7169,
  periods = -12,
  classification = list("11046" = 56732),   # Volume — construction materials
  localities = "N3[26]"
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_11046, locality_name, value)

pmc_construction |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "PMC — Sales volume index (2022 = 100)",
    subtitle = "Construction materials (Pernambuco)",
    x = NULL, y = "Index (2022 = 100)"
  ) +
  theme_minimal()

9.3 Retail trade (8880)

pmc_retail <- ibge_variables(
  aggregate = 8880,
  variable = 7169,
  periods = -12,
  classification = list("11046" = 56734),   # Volume — retail trade
  localities = "N3[26]"
) |>
  mutate(
    value  = parse_ibge_value(value),
    period = period_to_monthly(period)
  ) |>
  select(period, classification_11046, locality_name, value)

pmc_retail |>
  ggplot(aes(period, value)) +
  geom_line() +
  geom_point() +
  labs(
    title = "PMC — Sales volume index (2022 = 100)",
    subtitle = "Retail trade (Pernambuco)",
    x = NULL, y = "Index (2022 = 100)"
  ) +
  theme_minimal()