The index was lower than in July (0.19%). The indexes accumulated in the year (1.78%) and in the last 12 months (3.84%) are also below the previous ones (3.59% and 3.97%, respectively).

In August, the Extended Consumer Price Index (IPCA) changed by 0.05% and was lower than in July (0.19%). With this result, the index accumulated in the year was 1.78%, significantly below the figure for the same period last year (3.59%). The IPCA accumulated in the last twelve months was 3.84%, a little less than in the twelve immediately previous months (3.79%). In August 2005, the IPCA had changed by 0.17%.  

For the calculation of the index of the month, prices collected from July 29 to August 28 (reference period) were compared to prices in effect from June 28 to July 28 (base period).

The decrease of the rate from one month to the next occurred mainly due to the group transportation (from 0.37% in July to -0.32% in August). Gasoline, whose prices had risen by 0.81% in July, fell by 0.40%. The rate of alcohol changed from 1.04% to -0.80%.

Still in the group transportation, there was the low increase of interstate bus fares (from 6.64% to 1.02%) and of intercity bus fares (from 3.14% to 0.96%). Other highlights were: fines (-16.46%), airplane tickets (-1.97%), new cars (-0.60%) and used cars (-0.50%).

Fall of prices also occurred in relation to other important items such as: TV and sound equipment (-1.23%), fixed telephony (-0.54%), cleaning articles (-0.30%), personal hygiene items (-0.22%), electricity (-0.16%) and medicines (-0.14%).

Hikes were registered for salaries of domestic workers (from 1.18% to 2.26%), reflecting part of the readjustment of the minimum salary in effect since April, according to the calculation methodology used in this case. In spite of that, the IPCA of non-food products changed from 0.22% to 0.44%.

The group food products and beverages kept some of its stability in August (0.07%), similarly to what had occurred in July (0.09%). Although the pieces of most food products remain on a falling trend, fruits (7.15%), rice (2.03%) and meat (1.52%) stand ou as the highlights.

In terms of indexes by area, the main result was registered in Goiânia (0.38%), where gasoline prices rose by 3.14%. The lowest index was that of the metropolitan area of Belém (0.32%).

The IPCA has been calculated by IBGE since 1980, and it refers to families with monetary income, from any source, ranging from 1 to 40 minimum wages.   It includes nine metropolitan areas of the country, besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília. 

INPC was – 0.02% in August

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) changed by -0.02% in August, and was below the July figure (0.11%). This way, the index accumulated in the year (1.16%) was below that of the same period last year (3.31%). The index accumulated in the last twelve months (2.85%) was similar to that of the immediately previous twelve months (2.87%). In August 2005, the INPC was stable at 0.00%.

Food products fell (-0.27%) and non-food products rose (0.07%). The highest index by area was that of Rio de Janeiro (0.26%). The lowest one was registered in Belém (-0.50%).

The INPC has been calculated since 1979 and it refers to families with monetary income ranging from 1 to 6 minimum salaries, being the head of family a salaried worker.  It encompasses nine metropolitan areas of the country, besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília.  For the calculation of the index of the month, prices collected from July 29 to August 28 (reference period) were compared to prices in effect from June 28 to July 28 (base period).