The National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) of September presented a variation of 0.24% and was 0.09 percentage point above the rate of August (0.15%). With the result of September, the index accumulated 3.21% in the year, much lower than the 4.76% rate in the same period of 2008. Considering the last 12 months, the result was 4.34%, very close to the immediately previous 12 months (4.36%). In September 2008, the rate was 0.26%.

Having rise by 3.40% and 1.15%, respectively, cooking gas in cylinder and domestic workers were the items accounting for the main contributions to the formation of IPCA in September, with 0.04 percentage points each. The two items, which, together, accounted for 0.08 percentage points, led to price rise in the groups Housing (from 0.47%, in August, to 0.62 in September) and Personal Expenses (from 0.27% to 0.52%). The most significant rise of gas was 7.79% in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo, whereas in Brasília (-0.18%) and Salvador (-0.21%) there was fall of prices. 

As shown in the table below most groups had higher results in September, compared to August.

In Transportation (from -0.11%, in August, to 0.27% in September), the rise was mainly caused by new cars (from 0.25% to 0.67%) and used ones (from -1.55% to 0.86%). Other highlights were the rises observed in the prices of airplane tickets (from -10.97% to 3.58%), fuel alcohol (from 1.44% to 2.31%) and car insurance (from -2.03% to 0.26%).

In the group Communications (from -0.02% to 0.22%), there was significant influence of the fixed telephony, which got 0.32% more expensive, reflecting the readjustment granted by ANATEL to telephone companies. Price readjustment occurred in fares of calls made between two fixed-telephony appliances, considering local calls and long-distance ones, since September 16. 

From August to September, the highlights were changes in Apparel, from 0.13% to 0.58% mainly due to the new collection, and of the group Health and Personal Care, from 0.21% to 0.30%, considering the results of medicines  (from –0.05% to 0.12%) and items of personal hygiene (from -0.01% to 0.16%).

The group Food products and beverages (from -0.01% to -0.14%) faced more significant decrease in September, but the change of Household articles (from -0.24% to -0.03%) was less relevant. The main contribution to the month’s IPCA came from pasteurized milk, which became 8.76% cheaper, with -0.11 percentage points. See below the main food product with falling rates.

From August to September, the group Education had change from 0.83% to 0.07%, and non-food products changed from 0.20% to 0.35%.

Among the areas, Salvador (0.46%) had the highest index, affected by the rise of medicines (1.03%) and domestic workers (5.78%). The areas presenting the lowest indexes were Goiânia (0.01%) and Belém (0.02%). 

For the calculation of monthly indexes, prices collected from August 29 to September 28 (reference) were compared to those in effect from July 29 to August 28 (base). 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 and encompasses nine metropolitan areas, besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília.

INPC was 0.16% in September

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) changed by 0.16% in September, and had a result below the one in August. In the year, INPC was 3.23%, significantly below that of the same period in the previous year (5.25%). Considering the last 12 months, with 4.45%, the result was very close to the rate observed in the immediately previous 12 months (4.44%). In September 2008, INPC was 0.15%.

Among the areas, Brasília (0.36%) had the highest index. The lowest one was that of Belém (-0.17%).

For the calculation of monthly indexes, prices collected from August 29 to September 28 (reference) were compared to those in effect from July 29 to August 28 (base). 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, and encompasses nine metropolitan areas, besides the municipality of Goiânia and Brasília.