The cumulative index in the year was lower than in 2003.

The National Consumer Price Index – INPC recorded a change of 0.41% in April, being below the result of 0.57% of March by 0.16 percentage points.

The cumulative index of the year (2.22%) was lower than the 6.84% result registered at the same period of 2003. In the last twelve months the index was 5.60%, also below the result of the previous twelve months (6.62%). In April 2003 the index was 1.38%.

The food products price decreased 0.40%, but in March they had an increase of 0.51%. Non-food products rose 0.77%, a higher result than March's (0.60%).

The highest rate by area was registered in Curitiba (1.07%), and the lowest in Rio de Janeiro (-0.03%).

The table below has the area index from the last two months:

INPC has been calculated by IBGE since 1979. It refers to families with monthly income of one to eight minimum wages, whatever the source. It encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipalities of Goiânia and Brasília.

In order to measure April's index, the data collection occurred in the period from March 27 to April 26 (reference). The results were confronted with the prices in force from February 28 to March 26 (base).

Food products deflation had major influence on the reduction of 0.10 percentage points in relation to March's rate. The increase in medicines posted the major individual contribution (0.12 percentage points).

The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) changed by 0.37% in April. By the third consecutive time, the index was lower than the previous month's. In January, IPCA changed 0.76%; in February, 0.61%; and 0.47% in March.

The cumulative index in the year was 2.23%, it was lower than the 6.15% registered in the same period of 2003. In the last twelve months the index was 5.26%, also below the result of the previous twelve months, 5.89%. In April 2003 the monthly change was 0.97%.

The deflation of food products(-0.34%) was mainly due to increased supply from the marketing of new crop. Most prices charged in April were lower than those in March, when food products had increased 0.43%. Tomatoes (-10.74%), carioca beans (-2.81%), cassava flour (-2.46%), rice (-2.43%), fruits (-2.17%), and meat (-1.88%) were the items that had the biggest decreases. Soybean oil, influenced by crop failure and international marketing increase, was stable in April (0.05%), after March's 7.60% increase.

Besides food products, other items had a lower price increase, from March to April, and made important contribution to IPCA reduction. The highlights were: new cars (from 2.33% to 0.73%), house appliances (from 1.76% to 0.47%), water and sewage fees (from 2.62% to 0.73%) and cigaretts (from 4.76% to nill).

Also due to the very successful marketing of the new crop, alcohol fuel with -4.20%, kept the falling prices, but less intense than that of March, when they dropped 12.87%. Gasoline, due to alcohol decrease, was at -1.31%, a result near March's index (-1.41%).

On the other hand, medicine prices had an increase of 3%, reflecting partially the average price reset of 5.7% in force on March 31, granted for products controlled by the Regulatory Board. Medicine products were responsible by 0.12 percentage points of IPCA, the highest individual contribution in the month.

Of the items which increased, bottled gas (from 1.51% to 2.35%), electricity fees (from 0.01% to 1.21%) and wearing apparel items (from 0.46% to 1.11%) stood out.

The highest rate by area was registered in Curitiba (0.72%) mainly due to urban bus fees  (7.69%), which were at 11.7%, more expensive than on April 9. The lowest index was recorded in Rio de Janeiro (0.06%).

IPCA has been calculated by IBGE since 1980. It refers to families with monthly income of one to forty minimum wages, whatever the source. It encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipalities of Goiânia and Brasília.

In order to measure April index, the data collection was on the period from March 27 to April 26 (reference). The results were confronted with the prices in force from February 28 to March 26 (base).

The table below has the area index from the last two months: