The Extended Consumer Price Index -15 (IPCA-15) changed by 0.70% in December; this rate was above the November result (0.23%). As a consequence, IPCA-E (Special Extended Consumer Price Index) closed the year at 4.36%, a figure above the rate of 2.96% registered in 2006.

The group Food products and beverages had change of 1.73%; in November, the index had been 0.23%. Food products were the main items accounting for this month’s IPCA, with contribution of 0.37 (over half of the index). The main individual contribution came from meats: 8.78% and contribution of 0.16 percentage points. The highlights of this group were Brasília (14.14%), São Paulo (11.74%) and Goiânia (10.34%). Beans remained on an upward trend; “carioca beans”, which is the most often consumed type in the country changed by 27.86%. Black beans rose by 8.44%. Potatoes (11.77%), green vegetables (8.00%) and soybeans oil (4.51%) had significant rises. Among the products with falling prices, the main highlight was tomatoes, which became 18.80% cheaper in December.

Non-food products changed by 0.42% in December, versus 0.22% in the previous month. Alcohol prices rose by 11.45%, after the fall, in November, of 0.37%. The price of gasoline rose by 1.06%. Cigarettes, together with fuels and other items, also affected this month’s result.

In the year considering the nine groups of products and services, the group Food products and beverages (with rise of 10.09%), affected the index though changes in the prices of “carioca beans (103.96%), potatoes (70.43%), milk and dairy products (20.52%), meats (18.09%) and chicken (14.71%) as the main highlights. The opposite was observed in electricity, which has become 5.45% cheaper along the year.

Goiânia accounted for the highest index by area (1.02%)in this area, food products rose by 2.85%. The lowest index was that of Fortaleza (0.22%).  

For the calculation of IPCA-15, prices collected from November 13 to December 10 were compared to those in effect from October 12 to November 12. The indicator refers to families with income ranging from 1 to 40 minimum wages, and encompasses the metropolitan areas of Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Recife, São Paulo, Belém, Fortaleza, Salvador and Curitiba, besides Brasília and Goiânia. The methodology used is the same as that of IPCA; the difference between them lies in the data collection period. IPCA-E is IPCA-15 accumulated in a period of three months.