The Extended Consumer Price Index (IPCA) changed 0.59% in October and was close to September ‘s rate (0.57%). With such a result, the accumulated index of the year reached 4.38%, below the rate of 5.43% registered in 2011. Considering the last 12 months, the index was at 5.45%, above the 5.28% relative to the 12 immediately previous months. In October 2011, the rate was at 0.43%. The complete publication of the survey can be accessed at https://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/precos/inpc_ipca/defaultinpc.shtm. 

Of the nine groups which integrate the IPCA, six outnumbered the changes recorded in the previous month. Apparel reached 1.09% over 0.89% in September and household articles moved from 0.18% in September to 0.37% in October.

Transportation moved from -0.08% to 0.24% and the liter of gasoline increased 0.75%, after falling 0.13% in the previous month.   It stood in the third position in terms of individual impacts, with 0.03 percentage points, tied up with meals away from home.  The item new automobile, which had fallen 0.08% in September, moved to 0.32%, a result also registered by auto repair, another item that had shrunk 0.55% in September. As to used automobile, even though it has been facing drops, the change moved from -1.62% to -0.17%.

Health and personal care (from 0.32% in September to 0.48% in October) and communication (from 0.03% to 0.31%) recorded acceleration from one month to the other. But  non-food products had similar changes, 0.36% in September and 0.35% in October.  That is due to housing, which fell from 0.71% to 0.38% in October and personal expenses, from 0.73% to 0.10%.

The item domestic workers, which went from a high of 1.24% in September to -0.16% in October, and recreation (from 0.79% to 0.29%) were responsible for the personal expenses’ result in the month. As to housing, there was a deceleration in some items.

Food prices rose 1.36%, leading October’s results. The group food and beverages, responsible for 54% of the month’s result, with an impact of 0.32 percentage points, stayed 0.10 points above the 1.26% rate recorded in the previous month. The metropolitan regions of Belém and Fortaleza were up 3.05% and 2.12%, respectively. The lowest rise in food prices was 0.93% in Porto Alegre.

The main individual impacts on the index came from the group food and beverages.  The first was rice, which was 9.88% more expensive and exerted a 0.06 percentage points impact. Then, came the item meat, up 2.04%, with an impact of 0.05 points.  After that, comes the group meals away from the household, whose prices rose 0.70%, causing a 0.03 points impact. 

In regional terms, the highest increase was in Belém (1.02%), where food products rose 3.05%, with an impact of 1.00 percentage points, and were quite responsible for the index formation (98%). The lowest index was Curitiba's (0.39%) because of used automobiles (-3.38%), which became much cheaper in October, and due to the downfall of gasoline’s prices (-1.08%), as well. 

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 it encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipalities of Goiânia and Brasília. In order to estimate the index of the month, the prices collected from September 28 to October 29 of 2012 (reference) were compared to those in force from August 28 to September 27 (base).

INPC changed 0.71% in October

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) recorded a change of 0.71% in October and stood 0.08 percentage points above the result of 0.63% in September. As a result, the accumulated index of the year closed at 4.85%, below the rate of 4.94% relative to the same period of 2011. Considering the last 12 months, the index was at 5.99%, above the immediately previous 12 months (5.58%). In October of 2011, INPC was at 0.32 %. Food products recorded a change of 1.51% in October, while non-food products increased by 0.38%. In September, the results were at 1.40% and 0.32%, respectively.

In regional terms, the highest increase was in Belém (1.08%), where food products rose 2.88%, with an impact of 1.04 percentage points, and were quite responsible for the index formation in the region (96%). The lowest index was Curitiba's (0.37%) due both to used automobiles (-3.38%), which became cheaper in October, and to the downfall of gasoline’s prices (-1.08%).  

INPC has been calculated by IBGE since 1979. It refers to families with monthly income of one to six minimum wages, with a salaried head of the family, and it encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipalities of Goiânia and Brasília. In order to estimate the index of the month, the prices collected from September 28 to October 29 of 2012 (reference) were compared to those in force from August 28 to September 27 (base).