Index increased 0.11 percentage point in relation to September (0.33%), accumulated 5.95% in the year and 6.86% in the last twelve months.

The Extended Consumer Price Index - IPCA of October changed 0.44% and remained 0.11 percentage point above the rate of September (0.33%). With this result, the IPCA accumulated 5.95% in the year, below the percentage of 8.37% relatively to the same period of 2003. In the last twelve months the index has remained in 6.86%, slightly above the result of the previously twelve months (6.70%). In October 2003, the monthly rate was 0.29%.

The prices of food products decreased for the second consecutive month and even more than in September, passing from –0.19% to –0.23%. The lowest results were recorded by the products in natura: carrots (-17.16%), onions (-27.87), tomatoes (-16.74%) and potatoes (-10.09%). The prices of other products also fell, as for example: wheat flower (-3.18%), soy oil (-2.91%), manioc flower (-1.75%), rice (-1.72%) and bread rolls (-1,09%). With a significant hike, the highlight was carioca beans (11.69%).

Despite the fall in food products, the hike of fuels made the IPCA increase from September to October. The gasoline litre was 1.45% more expensive as a result of the readjustment that happened in the refineries. In alcohol, the increase was of 5.31% in the gas stations, due to the readjustments in the plants. Together, gasoline (0.06 percentage point) and alcohol (0.05 pp) represented the main impacts over the monthly index, summing 0.11 percentage point.

Air tickets also increased (5.03%), besides other important items such as new automobiles (1.29%) and apparel (1.12%).

Indexes by Areas

The highest index by area was recorded in Goiânia (1.08%), due mainly to the change in the item electricity (8.44%), with readjustment of 20% in the tariffs since September 12. The lowest result was recorded in Recife (0.09%). The following table illustrates the indexes by areas in the last two months.

Calculated by the IBGE since 1980, the IPCA refers to families with monetary income, from any source, ranging from 01 to 40 minimum wages. It includes nine metropolitan areas of the country, besides the municipalities of Goiânia and Brasília. To calculate the index of October, prices collected between September 28 and October 27 (reference period) were compared to those effective between August 27 and September 27 (base period).

INPC of October was 0.17%

The National Consumer Price Index - INPC had a change of 0.17% in October and equalled the rate of September. Hence, the INPC accumulated 4.77% in the year, below the percentage of 9.39% relatively to the same period of 2003. In the last twelve months, the rate has remained in 5.72%, below the result of the previously twelve months (5.95%). In October 2003, the rate of the INPC was 0.39%.

The prices of Food Products had a fall of -0.57%, below the rate of –0.23% recorded in September. The Non-food Products had a change of 0.49%, above the rate of September, 0.35%.

The highest index by areas was recorded in Goiânia (1.25%). Salvador (-0.15%) recorded the lowest result. The following table illustrates the indexes by areas in the last two months:

Calculated by the IBGE since 1979, the INPC refers to families with monetary income ranging from 01 to 08 minimum wages, whose head is a salaried worker. It includes nine metropolitan areas of the country besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília. To calculate the index of October, prices collected between September 28 and October 27 (reference period) were compared to prices charged between August 27 and September 27 (base period).