The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) closed November at 0.83% and was above the 0.75% rate of the previous month in 0.08 percentage point. It has been the highest monthly index since April 2005, when it reached 0.87%. The accumulated in the year is5.25%, above the 3.93% relative to the same period of 2009. Considering the last 12 months, IPCA changed to 5.63%, above the accumulated in the immediately previous 12 months (5.20%). In November 2009, the index had been 0.41%.

The rise of IPCA, once again, was stimulated by the group Food Products and Beverages, whose prices were even higher, changing from 1.89% in October to 2.22% in November. With this result, the impact of food products in the result of the month reached 0.51 percentage point, what means that the group accounted for 61% of the index. November was characterized by a higher rate of the group Food and Beverages since December 2002, when the rise was 3.91%.

Consumers began to pay, on average, 10.67% higher for one kilogram of meat, whose prices have already recorded an increase of the order of 26.79% in 2010. The item meat made the greatest individual contribution of the month, 0.25 percentage point, accounting for 30% of the index in the month. Dried meat became 7.05% more expensive in November and 18.48% in the year. Chicken became 3.35% more expensive, recording a rise of 9.42% in the year. Other food items continued presenting considerable price increases, like crystallized sugar, which changed to 8.57% in November, whereas refined sugar changed to 6.52%. Some food products became cheaper, with highlights being carioca beans. After a strong rise of 31.42% concentrated in the month of October, accumulating a rise of 109.78% up to that month, in November prices presented decrease. The kilogram of carioca beans became 6.64% cheaper than in October. Even though, considering the kilogram price, it almost doubled in relation to December 2009, being 95.85% more expensive. Tomatoes (-3.84%), rice (-1.22%) and onions (-3.95%) also presented falling prices.

Among non-food products, variation was 0.41% in November, the same as in October, although most groups of surveyed products and services presented rises between months. Variation in the group Transportation was markedly reduced (0.13%), highlighting decreases in plane tickets (-1.26%) and voluntary automobile insurance (-7.37%), besides the reduced growth rhythm of fuel prices (0.95%) Ethanol decreased to 2.97%, leading gasoline to 0.81%. The group Household Articles (-0.12%) showed decrease between months, produced by prices of home appliances (-0.92%); TV, stereo and computer items (-2.43%); besides deceleration of others, such as furniture (0.75%).

Contrary to the decrease in these two groups, the others presented increase. Rent (1.05%), condominium (0.88%) and electricity (0.48%) were responsible for the increased expenses with Housing (0.57%). As to electricity, the average increase of 0.48% in bills reflected part of the 2.0% readjustment upon the prices of one of the enterprise that supplies the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, in effect since November 7. It also reflected part of the 3.9% readjustment occurred on October 25 in one of the enterprises of Porto Alegre, besides variations of taxes in other regions. In the group Personal Expenses (0.74%), pressure was exerted by salaries of domestic workers (1.34%), which have remained in rise. Services of sewing (1.75%), manicure (1.14%) and hairdresser (0.82%) also stood out. Prices of fixed telephony (0.39%), reflecting the readjustment in one of the enterprises, pressed the group Communication (0.42%). In the Apparel items, the group that presented the greatest variation among non-food products, variation changed to 1.25%, with clothing standing out (1.39%).

Among regional indexes, Fortaleza (1.55%) was the highest result considering food products (3.75%) and apparel articles (5.16%). The metropolitan areas of Recife (0.63%) and São Paulo (0.62%) presented the lowest indexes, where food items changed 1.86% and 1.87%, respectively.

IPCA has been calculated by IBGE since 1980. It refers to families with monthly income of one to 40 minimum wages, whatever the source, and encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília. For the calculation of the month, prices collected from October 29 to November 29, 2010 (reference) were compared to those in effect from September 29 to October 28, 2010 (base).

INPC was 1.03% in November

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) of November closed the month at 1.03%, and was above the 0.92% rate of the previous month in 0.11 percentage point. With the November result, the accumulated in the year was 5.83%, above the 3.86% rate relative to the same period of 2009. Considering the last 12 months, the index was 6.08%, above the 5.39% related to the immediately previous 12 months, In November 2009, INPC had been 0.37%. Food products changed to 2.35% in November, whereas non-food products changed to 0.46%. Among regional indexes, Fortaleza (1.82%) had the highest result, considering food products (3.56%) and apparel articles (5.15%). The lowest result was that of Porto Alegre (0.68%), where food items (1.15%) increased less.

INPC has been calculated by IBGE since1979. It refers to families with monthly income of one to six minimum wages, with a salaried head of the family, and encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília. For the calculation of the month, prices collected from October 29 to November 29, 2010 (reference) were compared to those in effect from September 29 to October 28, 2010 (base).