The Extended National Consumer Price Index-15 (IPCA-15) changed by 0.52% in January, and was 0.17 percentage points above the December rate (0.35%). In January 2006, the index was 0.51%. Consequently, in the last twelve months, it reached 2.97%, remaining practically stable in relation to the previous month (2.96%).

The increase of IPCA-15 in January 2007, in comparison with December 2006, was due, mainly, to the group Means of Transportation. The index in this case changed from 0.46% to 1.03% due to the rise of bus fares in metropolitan areas, which were significantly relevant to the index. Resulting from an average change of 3.29%, the highest increase occurred in São Paulo (7.98%), due to the readjustment of 15.00% in effect since November. In Belo Horizonte, the rise was 3.78%; in Rio de Janeiro, 3.63%, as a consequence of the readjustments of 8.00% and of 5.26% in these cities, which went into effect, respectively, on December 30^th and on December 4^th, 2006.       

Accounting for 0.12 percentage points of the index, urban buses represented the major participation in the overall rate this month. Also included in IPCA-15 were the rises of fares of other means of transportation: subway (4.81%), train (3.74%), taxi (3.28%) and intercity buses (3.26%). In the same group, there was a 3.54% rise of the prices of alcohol, especially in the metropolitan area of São Paulo (8.56%). The price of gasoline, on the other hand, fell by 0.42%.

Food products also affected the IPCA-15 rate in January, having changed from 0.48%, in December 2006, to 0.72%. The highlights were soybeans oil (8.12%), coffee (3.85%), green vegetables (3.76%) eggs (3.23%), fish and related items (3.17%), rice (2.59%), fruits (2.03%), snacks (1.45%) and restaurant meals (0.80%).

Among the regional indexes, the highest result was registered in São Paulo (0.87%), as a consequence of the rise of prices in the group of Means of Transportation (1.03%) in the month. The highlights in this group were the fares of urban buses (7.98%) and taxis (13.74%) and also alcohol (8.56%). Goiânia had the lowest index (-0.04%).