The Extended National Consumer Price Índex-15 (IPCA-15) had a variation of 0.52% in January, superior to the 0.38% rate of December. Considering the last 12 months, the index was 4.31%, also above that of the 12 previous months (4.1%). In January 2009, the rate had been 0.40%.

The increase of IPCA-15 of January was concentrated in items of impact in consumers’ budget, such as the fares of urban buses. With 3.73% of index calculation and 1.46% increase, they were responsible for the biggest individual impact in the month: 0.05 percentage point. Urban buses recorded an increase of 5.65% in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, reflecting part of the 17.40% readjustment, in effect since January 4.

Consumers began to pay more for interstate buses, whose fares increased by 2.42%, and also for intercity buses (1.49%). Besides buses, alcohol, in a smaller supply period, presented a price increase of 5.42%, causing gasoline to be 0.63% more expensive in January. Consequently, non-food products recorded a variation of 0.44% in January, the same as in December 2009.

Food products joined the positive pressures of IPCA-15, changing from a rate of 0.17% in December of last year to 0.81% in January. Strong increases were verified for in natura products, sensitive to weather problems. The rise of vegetables reached 12.40%, whereas fish increased by 3.66%. Other products stood out, for example, chicken (1.45%), meat (1.58%) and fruits (1.24%).

The variations by group are presented below.

The highest regional index was recorded in Salvador (0.89%), whereas the lowest was verified in Porto Alegre (0.13%), according to the table below.

 For the calculation of IPCA-15, prices were collected from December 12, 2009 to January 14, 2010, and compared to those in effect from November 14 to December 11, 2009. The indicator refers to families with income of 1 to 40 minimum wages and comprises 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 is the same used for IPCA; the difference lies in the period of price collection.