The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) of October changed 0.82% and stayed 0.28 percentage points (p.p.) above the rate of 0.54% registered in September. This was the highest result for October since 2002, when it reached 1.31%. As a result, the cumulative rate in the year stayed at 8.52%, above the rate of 5.05% in the same period of 2014, recording the highest rate for the period between January and October since 1996 (8.70%). The index stayed at 9.93% in the last 12 months, above the rate of 9.49% posted in the 12-month period until September and the highest index for 12 months since November 2003 (11.02%). The IPCA registered 0.42% in October 2014.

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Fuel, which is a significant part of the expenditure of households and weights 4.89% in the IPCA, led the ranking of major impacts in October. 6.09% more expensive, fuel accounted for 0.30 p.p. and was responsible for 37% of the overall index.

On average, consumers started to pay 5.05% more for the liter of gasoline, which weights the most in the index (3.83%), exerting an impact of 0.19 p.p. The price rises reached 6.21% in São Paulo and 6.12% in Curitiba, whereas the lowest changes were registered in Recife (1.70%) and Vitória (1.72%). That was how the pumps reflected the adjustment of 6.00% authorized at the refinery level, in force since September 30. The gasoline prices recorded a cumulative rise of 17.93% in relation to the last 12 months. The rise reached 23.38% in Recife and the lowest rise was posted in Campo Grande (8.99%).

In the case of ethanol, the rise was even higher, reaching 12.29%. As the participation of ethanol in the budget was only 0.80%, its contribution to the index was just 0.10 p.p., lower than that of gasoline. São Paulo stood out with 14.99%, and Recife registered the lowest change: 2.85%. The prices of the liter of ethanol increased 16.98% in the last 12 months. Goiânia recorded the highest rise, 24.16%, while the lowest was posted in Recife: 5.52%.

Weighting 0.15%, diesel prices increased 3.26%, reflecting at the pump the adjustment of 4.00% in the refineries, also on September 30. The rise was 15.94% in the last 12 months.

As a result, the adjustment in the fuel prices took Transportation (1.72%) to the top among the groups in October. Other highlights in this group were airfare (4.01%), tire (0.94%), intercity bus (0.84%), car repair (0.69%) and parts and pieces (0.46%).

The change of 0.10% in urban bus was influenced by Brasília, where the fares increased 23.08% in October, reflecting part of the adjustment of 33.34% in force since September 20. In Belo Horizonte the index dropped 4.86% as the price adjustment of 9.68%, in force since August 8, was repealed by an injunction on September 14. The fares returned to the previous levels on September 17 and remained in force until October 24, when the price was adjusted once again. The change of 0.84% in intercity bus was mainly due to the change of 9.04% recorded in Porto Alegre, which reflected part of the adjustment of 10.00% in force since September 16.

The group of Food and Beverages (0.77%) posted the second highest rise of the index in October. The highest rise was registered in Belém (1.61%), whereas Rio de Janeiro (0.28%) recorded the lowest change. Food away from home rose 0.93%, more than food at home (0.68%). As a result, the group of Food and Beverages reached 10.39% in the last 12 months, having Goiânia (13.16%) at the top and Belo Horizonte (7.89%) in the last position.

The prices of most food products rose between September and October. The major rises can be seen in the following table. Few products dropped their prices, highlighted by onions, whose prices fell 32.64%, and potatoes, which became 10.69% cheaper between the two months.

Among the expenditures with Housing (0.75%), bottled gas stood out as it got 3.27% more expensive after having risen 12.98% in September. In these two months, LPG for residential use increased 16.67% in the distribution points, as a result of the adjustment of 15% in the refineries, approved by Petrobras and in force since September 1.

In Housing, other items increased the expenditures of consumers: electricity (0.87%), manpower for small repairs (0.58%), rent (0.57%) and cleaning products (0.41%).

Concerning electricity, both São Paulo and Goiânia made changes in the taxes, as well as incorporated part of the price adjustments granted. The change of 1.06% in the bills in São Paulo took into account the adjustment of 15.50% in the fares of one of the concessionaries, in force since October 23 In Goiânia, the change of 4.37% took into account the adjustment of 6.71%, in force since September 12.

Considering the other groups of products and services surveyed, the highlights were the following items: excursion (2.70%), health insurance (1.06%), domestic workers (1.03%), landline telephone (0.86%) and mobile telephone (0.50%).

The change of 0.86% in the landline telephone bills reflected increases between 5.50% and 7.20% in the landline-mobile calls in force since October 2. The change of 0.50% in mobile telephone was due to an adjustment practiced by one of the carriers.

The highest regional index was reported in Brasília (1.24%), due to the rise of 23.08% in the item urban bus, whose fares were readjusted by 33.34% since September 20. The lowest index was registered in Rio de Janeiro (0.59%), where food at home changed 0.02%, well below the national average (0.68%). See below the table of monthly results by area surveyed.

The IPCA has been calculated by IBGE since 1980. It refers to households with monthly earnings between one and 40 minimum wages, whatever the source. It encompasses ten metropolitan areas in Brazil, as well as the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande and Brasília. In order to estimate the index of the month, the prices collected from September 29 to October 27, 2015 (reference) were compared with the prices in force from August 28 to September 28, 2015 (base).

INPC changes 0.77% in October

The National Consumer Price Index - INPC changed 0.77% in October and stood 0.26 p.p. above the result of 0.51% in September. As a result, the cumulative index in the year closed at 9.07%, well above the rate of 5.02% relative to the same period of 2014. Considering the last 12 months, the index stood at 10.33%, very close to the index of 9.90% corresponding to the previous 12 months. In October 2014, the INPC was at 0.38%.

Food products changed 0.80% in October, whereas the September´s rate was 0.56%. The group of non-food products changed 0.76% in October, above the index of 0.66% of September.

The highest regional index was reported in Brasília (1.83%), where the urban bus fares increased 23.08%, reflecting the adjustment of 33.34% in force since September 20. The lowest index was recorded in Belo Horizonte (0.41%), whose item urban bus dropped 4.86%, as the adjustment of 9.68%, granted on August 8, was repealed on September 17. The adjustment returned on October 25. See below the table of monthly results by area surveyed.

The INPC has been calculated by IBGE since 1979. It refers to families with monthly earnings between one and five minimum wages, with a salaried head of the family, and it encompasses ten metropolitan areas in Brazil, as well as the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande and Brasília. In order to estimate the index of the month, the prices collected from September 29 to October 27, 2015 (reference) were compared with the prices in force from August 28 to September 28, 2015 (base).