Economic activity in Brazil was 0.2 percent greater in November than the month before, Reuters reports.

The news agency, citing the Brazilian central bank’s latest IBC-Br index, says the growth in activity was due to increased retail sales.

The index measures activity in agriculture, manufacturing and services, and serves as a proxy for gross domestic product.

The report says the index reading for November was the highest since June. The index had fallen by 0.15 percent in October.

It is expected that the Brazilian economy shrank by over 3 percent last year, contracting for the second year in a row, Reuters says.