The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) in May (0.28%) was slightly higher than in April (0.25%). The biggest individual contribution came from milk and dairy products (0.07 percentage points).

The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) in May (0.28%) was slightly higher than in April (0.25%). The biggest individual contribution came from milk and dairy products (0.07 percentage points). In 2007, the index was 1.79%, above the index in the equivalent period last year (1.75%). The index accumulated in the last twelve months (3.18%) was also above the rate of 3.00% registered in the immediately previous twelve months. In May 2006, the index was 0.10%.     

In the comparison May/April, fuels contributed to the reduction of the IPCA. They changed from 1.17% in April to 0.58% in the following month. The increase of the alcohol supply, as a result of the harvest of sugarcane, caused the prices of this product increased by 2.82% in May, significantly less than in April, when its price reached 7.34% more than in the previous month.  Gasoline, due to its mixture with alcohol, followed the same trend and had lower decrease from one month to the other, having changed from 0.66% to 0.33%.

Besides fuels, water and sewage fares (which changed from 0.72% to 0.19%) were also a highlight due to the slight increase from April to May. Used cars faced decrease from 1.06% to -0.42%.  

Among the items contributed to the increase of the IPCA, milk and dairy products (from 2.45%, in April, to 3.75%, in May) were the highest individual contribution in the month. Consumers will pay 6.02% more for the liter of pasteurized milk, 2.62% for powdered milk and 1.23% for cheese.

The prices of onions (from 8.13%, in April, to 17.5%, in May) and canned food also increased, as well as the price of meals taken outside the household (from 0.50% to 0.79%). Nevertheless, despite the change in the group food products, several products became cheaper in the month, such as tomatoes (-31.10%), carrots (-17.29%), fruits (-4.97%), crystallized sugar (-4.97%), black beans (-1.86%) and eggs (-1.11%).

Whereas the IPCA of food products was 0.16%, the index for non-food products changed by 0.31%. The approach of winter has caused the prices of apparel to rise by 0.33% in April, to 0.68% in May. The price of cleaning products also rose (from 0.59% to 0.75%) and of personal hygiene (from 0.29% to 0.58%).

The rise of urban bus fares (from 0.03% to 0.24% came from the metropolitan area of Curitiba, whose change of 4.79% reflected part of the readjustment of 5.50% which occurred on April 26. On this same day, also in Curitiba, the fares of intercity buses rose by 5.00%, which caused the group to change by 0.26% in May (versus 0.03% in April).

Medicines, whose prices became 0.68% higher in May, after hike of 0.50% in April, partially reflected the readjustment granted on March 31st. There was also increase of electricity (from 0.37% to 0.47%), salaries of domestic workers (from 0.65% to 0.91%) and cigarettes (from 0.71% to 2.08%).

The highest result by area was that of Brasília (0.55%) where some important items for family consumption were above the national average, especially gasoline (4.21%), alcohol (3.66%) and medicines (0.59%). The lowest result was that of Fortaleza (-0.10%).

The table below shows the result by area surveyed.

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 salaries.  It encompasses nine metropolitan areas of the country, besides the municipalities of Goiânia and Brasília. For the calculation of the index of the month, prices collected from April 28^th to May 28^th were compared to those charged from March 30^th to April 27^th.

IPCA in May was 0.26%, the same figure as in April

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) changed by 0.26% in May, the same result as in April. The index accumulated in 2007 was 1.88%, above the result of 2006 (1.13%). In the last twelve months, the INPC was 3.57%, also above the result of 3.44% relative to the immediately previous twelve months. In May 2006, the index was 0.13%.

In terms of the monthly index, food products changed by 0.07% and non-food products, by 0.33%. The highest indexes by area were registered in Belo Horizonte and Curitiba (0.49% and 0.48%, respectively). The lowest result was that of Fortaleza (-0.09%), as shown in the table below:

The INPC has been calculated by IBGE since 1979; it refers to families headed by a salaried worker and with monetary income ranging from 01 to 06 minimum salaries. It encompasses nine metropolitan areas of the country, besides the municipalities of Goiânia and Brasília.  To calculate the index of the month, prices collected in the period April 28^th to May 28^th  (reference) were compared to those charged from March 30^th to April 27^th (base).