The National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) changed by 0.37% in December 2009, 0.04 percentage points below the November rate (0.41%). In December 2008 the index had been 0.28%. As a result, IPCA in 2009 was 4.31%, that is, 1.59 percentage points below the rate in 2008 (5.90%).

After the higher figure reached in 2008 (5.90%), in 2009 IPCA returned to the same level as in 2007 (4.46%), being in a downward trend throughout the year, considering the index accumulated in 12 months. See the accumulated figures below:

Meals in restaurants increase individual participation in the year’s IPCA

Despite the reduced rhythm of price rises in the group food products (from 11.11% in 2008 to 3.18% in 2009), the item meals in restaurants, the prices of which rose 9.05%, accounted for the major contribution to the year’s IPCA: 0.37 percentage points – which had already occurred in 2008. In second place was refined sugar, with rise of 52.99% and contribution of 0.11 percentage points. The table below shows the items which contributed most significantly to IPCA in 2009.

With change of 3.15%, the rise of transportation was even more significant in Brasília, where the highest IPCA by area was observed (0.88%). The main influence came from airplane tickets, whose rise of 52.53% led to a figure of 0.58 percentage points, or 66% of the index by area. The lowest rate was that o Porto Alegre (0.03%), where there was fall by 0.64% in food products prices. 

the highest monthly rate in 2009 was that of February (0.55%), and results by quarter showed that highest rates were concentrated in the starting months of the year; all of these figures, however, were below the equivalent ones in 2008.

Whereas year 2008 was affected by the rise of food products, which had closed 2009 at 11.11%, in 2009 these products changed by 3.18% (being 2.64% in the fourth quarter and 0.52% in the second one), accounting for the reduction of IPCA from one year to the other. The rate of non-food products was 4.65%, higher than in 2008 (4.46%).

Among the groups, personal expenses accounted for the biggest rise (8.03%) and the main contribution (0.79 percentage points) in 2009. In this case, the most relevant items were personal services (7.50%) and cigarettes (27.00%). On the other hand, communication underwent the slightest change (1.08%), as shown in the table below: 

Although the national harvest of 2009 (133.8 million metric tons) was 8.3% below the figure in 2008 (146.0 million metric tons), important food products in the diet of Brazilian families close the year with increased production. As an example can be mentioned rice and beans, which had falling prices (-13.14% and -37.43%. respectively), thus contributing to the deceleration of food products in 2009. Meats (-5.33%) also contributed to a lower result in the year.

In the group of non-food products (4.65% in 2009, being 2.55% in the fist quarter and 2.05% in the second one), schools (5.94%) and domestic workers (8.73%) had the same result as the second main contribution to the year’s index (0.28 percentage points each). Very few items presented falling results, mainly used cars (-11.90%), telephone appliances (-8.87%), vehicle gas (-8.48%), cement (-5.94%), personal computers (-5.44%), household appliances (-4.85%), voluntary insurance (-4.25%) and new cars (-3.62%).

 Fuels closed the year at 2.61%, with contribution of 0.16 percentage points, differently from the result of 0.55% and contribution of 0.03 points in 2008. In 2009, alcohol changed by 14.98%; and gasoline, by 2.06%. The rise of the alcohol price occurred due to the lower offer of this product. As a consequence, gasoline prices also rose.

In 2009, Brasília has the highest IPCA, and Goiânia, the lowest

In 2009, Brasília had the highest IPCA (4.92%) due, especially, to the contributions of rents (8.08%). Condominium fees (9.07%) and airplane tickets (51.39%). The lowest index was that of Goiânia (3.45%), where food products presented the lowest change (0.93%).

Food products caused deceleration of IPCA from November to December

The group food products and beverages, which changed from 0.58% in November to 0.24% in December accounted for the lowest IPCA rate from one month to the other. Products which had significant changes in November faced price reduction in the following month; one example is potatoes (from 26.06% to -10.85%), as shown in the table below:

Some food products faced reduction of rise rate from November to December, for example soybean oil (from 4.43% to 0.83%), but few of them had significant rises. The highlights were carrots (from 5.74% to 28.70%) and green vegetables (from -1.11% to 10.08%), due to rainfall.

In the group non-food products, the rate of 0.41% in December was above that of November de (0.36%). The major individual contribution to the monthly index came from airplane tickets (0.12 percentage points), which rose 46.91%. So, transportation (from 0.61% to 0.78%) was the group presenting the biggest change in the last month of the year.

IPCA has been calculated by IBGE since 1980 and it refers to families with monetary income ranging from 01 to 40 minimum wages, from whatever source. It encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília. For the calculation of the monthly index, prices collected from November 28 to December 29 (reference) were compared to prices in effect from October 30 to November 27 (base).

INPC of December was 0.24% and index closed 2009 at 4.11%

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) changed by 0.24% in December, being 0.13 percentage points below the November result (0.37%). In December 200 the index had been 0.29%. So, INPC closed the year at 4.11%.

In the year, food products rose 1.83%; non-food products, by 5.10%. In 2008, the result had been 6.48%, with rise of 11.40% for food products and of 4.47% for non-food products.

Among the regional indexes, the highest results accumulated in 2009 were observed in Curitiba and São Paulo, both with 4.68%; the lowest figure was that of Porto Alegre (3.18%), as shown in the table below:.

In December, food products rose by 0.13%, whereas non-food products did by 0.29%. In November, these results had been 0.52% and 0.31%, respectively.

In the last month of 2009, the highest result by area was that of Recife (0.70%), where fuel prices had its major rise (4.81%). The lowest result was observed in Porto Alegre (-0.25%), due to the fall of food products prices (-1.12%).

INPC has been calculated by IBGE since 1979, and it refers to families with monetary income ranging from 01 to 06 minimum wages, with a salaried head of the household, encompassing nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília. For the calculation of the monthly index, prices collected from November 28 to December 29 (reference) were compared to prices in effect from October 30 to November 27 (base).