More than half of the index of March came from electricity, with increase of 22.08% generated 0.71 percentage points (p.p.) of impact, the most significant in the month, accounting for 53.79% of the IPCA. With the review of fares in effect since March 02, as approved by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) there were extra increases, out of the annual adjustment, in order to cover costs of concessionaries with the purchase of energy. On the same date, ther was price adjustment of 83.33% about the price in effect, red tariff flag, from R$ 3.00 to R$ 5.50.

In Rio de Janeiro, the change of electricity also reflected the annual increase of 34.91% in one of the concessionaries, which went into effect on March 15. Except for Recife, which recorded a change of 0.65% due to the reduction of taxes, the other Major Regions recorded significant rises: 

Considering these increases, consumers were paying more 36.34%, on average, for the use of electricity, becoming 60.42% more expensive in the last 12 months. The following table shows the changes in electricity, in the year and in 12 months, by area surveyed.

Among the other groups, it should be highlighted the rise of gasoline, from the group of Transportation (0.46%), whose prices increased 1.26%, still reflecting part of the increase of PIS/COFINS, in force since February 1st. As a result, the liter of gasoline registered an average increase of 9.80% this year, hitting 13.36% in the metropolitan area of Salvador. Considering the last 12 months, the rise was of 11.49%, reaching 17.05% in the area of Fortaleza.

Still on Transportation, the rise of 0.85% in the item urban bus fare stood out, reflecting the changes recorded in Goiânia (10.00%), where the adjustment of 17.85% in the bus fares was in force since February 16; Porto Alegre (7.97%), where the adjustment of 10.85% was in force since February 22; and Curitiba (3.40%), where the adjustment of 15.78% was in force since February 6. In 2015, the urban bus fares were, on average, 11.91% more expensive and were not yet adjusted in four of the 13 areas surveyed. Considering the last 12 months, the average was 14.05%, including two areas without adjustment.

The following items also pressed the group of Transportation: voluntary car insurance (3.05%); parts and pieces (1.50%), used cars(1.28%) and                                     car repair (1.15%).

The rise of 1.36% in the item personal hygiene, from the group of Health and Personal Care (0.69%) should be mentioned as well.

On the other hand, the highlights in terms of drop were the items airfare (-15.45%) and landline telephone (-4.13%). In the latter, the drop was due to the average reduction of 22.00% in the landline to mobile fares, in force since February 24.

Concerning the regional indexes, the highest rate was reported in Porto Alegre (1.81%). The pressure came from electricity (27.21%) andurban bus (7.97%). Electricity reflected the average extraordinary adjustment of 26.31%, in force since March 2. As to the item urban bus fare, an adjustment of 10.85% was in force since February 22. The lowest indexes were posted in Recife (0.56%) and Belém (0.58%).  InRecife, the item electricity (0.65%) registered the lowest figure in relation to the other areas, as a result of the lowest extraordinary adjustment (1.45%) and of the drop of PIS/Cofins. In Belém, food at home changed 0.17%, well below the national average (1.17%). The next table shows the monthly figures by area surveyed.

IPCA has been calculated by IBGE since 1980. It refers to families with monthly income of one to 40 minimum wages, whatever the source, and it encompasses ten metropolitan areas in Brazil, besides the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande and Brasília. In order to measure the index of the month, the prices collected from February 28 to March 27, 2015 (reference) were compared with the ones from January 29 to February 27, 2015 (base).

INPC changes 1.51% in March

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) recorded a change of 1.51% in March, 0.35 p.p. above the figure of February (1.16%).  In the first quarter of the year, the index stayed at 4.21%, above the percentage of 2.10% registered in the same period of 2014.  Considering the last 12 months, the rate stayed at 8.42%, well above the rate of 7.68% registered in the previous 12 months. In March 2014, the INPC was 0.82%.

Food products recorded 1.21% in March, whereas the rate was 0.86% in February. The group of non-food products changed 1.64% in March, above the rate of 1.29% of February.

The highest regional index was reported in the metropolitan area of Curitiba (2.30%), due to the rise of 33.06% in the electricity fares. By weighting 4.49%,  it exerted an impact of 1.49 percentage points in the index of this area. Food products  (1.76%) also pressed the March´s figure. The lowest index was recorded in Belém (0.55%), in which food products changed 0.55%, well below the national average (1.21%). The table below shows the indexes by area surveyed.

INPC has been calculated by IBGE since 1979. It refers to families with monthly income of one to five minimum wages, with a salaried head of the family, and it encompasses ten metropolitan areas in Brazil, besides the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande and Brasília. In order to measure the index of the month the prices collected from February 28 to March 27, 2015 (reference) were compared with those in force from January 29 to February 27, 2015 (base).