The index was similar to that of September (0.19%), accumulating 3.34% in the year and 4.14% in the last 12 months.

The extended National Consumer Price Index-15 (IPCA-15) of October was 0.18%, a very similar result to that of September (0.19%). With this result, the rate accumulated in the year was 3.34%, significantly lower than the 5.28% of the same period of last year. For the last 12 months, the rate was 4.14%, also below the 4.27% recorded in the immediately previous 12 months. In October 2008, IPCA-15 was 0.30%.

From September to October some important items pushed the index up. That was the case of gas cylinder, which was 2.94% more expensive and gave the main contribution of the month (0.04 percentage point) to IPCA-15 composition. The price of gas increased by 5.60% in Goiânia and by 5.96% in São Paulo, where there were the highest rises. Housing expenses (0.47%) were also influenced by water and sewage fees (1.11%), reflecting part of the last readjustment that happened in Rio de Janeiro (3.85%).

Besides, an expressive rise in fuel alcohol (6.35%) was detected, causing a 0.42% increase in gasoline, in whose composition alcohol is present. The metropolitan area of São Paulo had the highest increase in the prices of alcohol (10.19%). The highest result for gasoline was in Curitiba (1.20%).

The group Food products and beverages presented a decrease (-0.25%), bringing IPCA-15 rates of September and October closer. Pasteurized milk (-7.29%) was responsible for the lowest contribution: -0.08 percentage point. Besides milk, other basic food products had falls in relation to September, like tomatoes (-14.86%), carrots (-13.97%), carioca beans (-5.05%) and eggs (-3.35%).

Among the metropolitan areas (table below), the highest indexes were recorded in Curitiba (0.38%) and Rio de Janeiro (0.36%), whereas in Salvador (-0.19%) and Goiânia (-0.10%) there were decreases.

IPCA-15 was collected from September 15 to October 13, and prices were compared to those collected between August 14 and September 14. The complete tables with the variations of December and the accumulated in the year, besides regional indexes, are found at www.ibge.gov.br. Click on the text and then on “Conjuncture Indicator”.