The Extended National Consumer Price Index 15 (IPCA-15) changed 0.51% in April and stood 0.88 percentage points (p.p.) above March's rate (0.43%). As a result, the cumulative index in the year stayed at3.32%, below the 4.61% recorded in the same period of the previous year. The cumulative index over the last 12 months (9.34%) stood below the rate recorded over the 12 months prior to that period (9.95%). In April of 2015, the rate was at 1.07%. The complete data of IPCA-15 can be accessed atwww.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/precos/ipca15/defaultipca15.shtm.

Food and beverages, with an increase of 1.35%, and Health and personal care, with 1.32%, presented the biggest results in the group, according to the table below.

Food products (1.35%) contributed with 0.34 p.p. to the formation of the monthly index, accounting for 67% of it. In the Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte food prices became 2.12% more expensive, followed by Belém (1.94%). The item fruits (8.52%) recorded the highest individual contribution (0.09 p.p.). Besides fruits, other products became more expensive from one month to the other, especially acai berries (11.80%), carrots (8.77%), milk (5.76%), leafy vegetables (5.02%), potatoes (4.80%) and carioca beans (4.19%). On the other hand, tomatoes (-8.63%) and onions (-3.35%) became cheaper.

Medicines, 2.64% more expensive, are a highlight in the group Health and personal care (1.32%), reflecting part of the 12.50% increase in force since the first of April. Health plans (1.06%), personal hygiene products (0.70%) and hospital and lab services (0.66%) are other highlights in the group.

In the other groups, the highlights, on the rise, are the following items: TV, sound and computer equipment (1.69%); cleaning products (1.42%); water and sewerage  (0.98%); license plates and driver’s licenses (0.75%); domestic workers (0.69%); women’s wearing apparel (0.57%); car repair (0.48%); city bus (0.37%).

The result of water and sewerage (0.98%) was influenced by the Metropolitan Areas of Recife (9.21%), where fares increased 10.69% from March 20 on, and of Curitiba (4.70%), with a 10.48% increase in the 1st of April.

In the item city bus (0.37%), Porto Alegre (8.00%) was the area exerting influence on the result, with an increase of 15.38% on the fares, in force since March 30.

Electricity (-2.86%) exerted the sharpest impact down (-0.11 p.p.), with the end of the tariff flag charge, for since April 1st, the fee of R$ 1.50 for each 100 kilowatts-hour consumed because of the yellow flag ceased being charged. Electricity bills in all the areas surveyed became cheaper, especially in Salvador (-6.63%). In some areas, including Salvador, there was also a drop in the value of the PIS/COFINS rate.

The highest indexes by area were in Belém (0.78%) and Porto Alegre (0.76%). The index of Belém was pushed by the 1.94% rate of food products, with a  highlight to acai berries with a high of 11.80%. InPorto Alegre the 8.00% result of the city bus, which reflected the adjustment of 15.38% occurred in March 30, was the main responsible for the rise of the index. Salvador (0.08%) was the Metropolitan Area which presented the lowest change due to the decrease of 5.15% in the prices of fuels. The liter of gasoline became 6.03% cheaper and the liter of ethanol, 3.53%. In the table below, the results by area surveyed:

In order to estimate IPCA-15, the prices collected from March 16 to April 13 (reference) were compared with the ones in force from February 16 to March 15 (base).  The indicator refers to families with monthly income of 1 to 40 minimum wages and it encompasses the Metropolitan Areas of Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Recife, São Paulo, Belém, Fortaleza, Salvador, Curitiba, and also Brasília and Goiânia. The methodology is the same as the one used for IPCA; the difference lies in the period of price collection and in the geographic coverage.