The Extended National Consumer Price Index – IPCA of April changed by 0.48% and was 0.28 percentage points above the rate of March (0.20%). With this result in  Aprl, the rate more than doubled compared to that in the previous month, and the figure accumulated in the year was 1.72%, being, however, below the 2.08% relative to the same period in 2008. Considering the last 12 months, the result was 5.53%, also below the immediately previous 12 months (5.61%). In April 2008, the rate was 0.55%. 

From March to April, the group Personal expenses, with 2.14%, had the biggest change and was affected, above all, by the increase of 14.71% in the prices of cigarettes, which accounted for the main contribution in the month of April: 0.13 percentage points. The hike reflected part of the readjustment of March 16, together with the hikes resulting from the rise of IPI and of PIS/COFINS, which went into effect on April 10. Besides, the item “personal services” was also a highlight in the group. With rise of 1.55%. The main hikes were observed in the items domestic worker (1.83%), hairdresser’s (1.59%), manicure services (1.44%) and seamstress services (1.16%).

The group Health and personal care, with increase of 1.10%, had the second major change from March to April, as a consequence of the hikes observed in medicines (2.89%). This result reflects the readjustment of 5.90% granted on March 31 for some types of medication. See below results for all the groups: 

Besides Apparel, with change of 1.08%, showing the commercialization of the fall-winter collection, the group Housing, with 0.75%, was also relevant in the month of April. Cooking gas (2.41%), the most expensive one in all the areas surveyed except Recife, and electricity (0.87%), with rising bills in most of the areas, were the highlights in Housing.

Household appliances (-1.34%) and TV sets and sound systems (-0.66) were the items accounting for the result of -0.50% of Household articles. The decrease of 0.21% of the item Transportation occurred due to the lower prices of new cars (-0.47%) and used ones (-1.62%), besides gasoline (-0.46%) and alcohol (-3.02%).

The group non-food products rose from 0.17%, in March, to 0.58%, in April. On the other hand, the group Food products and beverages changed from 0.30%, in March, to 0.15%, in April. Few items in this group rose from one month to the other, the main ones being potatoes (from 1.08% to 18.57%), pasteurized milk (from 0.54% to 3.12%) and powdered milk (from 0.57% to 1.01%).

Among the indexes by area, Porto Alegre (0.91%) was the highlight due to the high result of the month, being mainly affected by food products (0.55%) and electricity (3.14%). The lowest change was that of Salvador (0.04%), where food products fell by 1.20%.

To calculate the monthly index, prices collected from March 31 to April 28 (reference) were compared to those charged between February 28 and March 30 (base).IPCA has been calculated by IBGE since 1980. It refers to families with monthly income ranging from one to forty minimum wages, from whatever source. IPCA encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipality of Goiânia, and Brasília.

In April, INPC was 0.55%

The National Consumer Price Index – INPC changed by 0.55% in April, being above the result of 0.20% in March. In terms of the index accumulated in the year, INPC was 1.71%, below the index of the same period in 2008 (2.34%). Considering the last 12 months, with 5.83%, the result was below the one relative to the immediately previous 12 months (5.92%). In April 2008, INPC was 0.64%.

Among the indexes by area, Porto Alegre (1.05%) was the highlight for being the highest in the month, affected, mainly, by the rise of food products (0.45%) and electricity (3.10%). The lowest change was that of Salvador (-0.08%), where food products fell by 1.63%. The table below shows the indexes by area surveyed. 

 To calculate the monthly index, prices collected from March 31 to April 28 (reference) were compared to those charged between February 28 and March 30 (base).INPC has been calculated by IBGE since 1979. It refers to families with monthly income ranging from one to six minimum wages, with a salaried head of household. IPNC encompasses nine metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipality of Goiânia, and Brasília.