The Extended National Consumer Price Index-15 (IPCA-15) had a variation of 0.63% in May, a rate superior to that of April (0.48%). With this result, the accumulated in the year was 3.16%, a result superior to that verified in the same period of the previous year (2.10%). Considering the last 12 months, the index was 5.26%, also above that of the immediately previous 12 months (5.22%). In May, 2009, the rate had been 0.59%.

From April to May, the greatest contributions to the rise of the result came from pharmaceutical products (from 0.70% to 2.14%), due to the average readjustment of 4.64% on March 31, and from electricity (from -0.46% to 1.29%), which reflects the charge of COSIP (Public Lighting Contribution Charge), implanted in Rio de Janeiro on April 20 and responsible for the 5.04% result in the month index. Readjustments in electricity fees were also verified in Fortaleza (5.50%) and Salvador (5.92%), both on April 22, in percentages of 5.89% and 6.74%, respectively.

The following items also contributed to the month result: domestic servant (from 1.60% to 1.12%) and new cars (from -0.46% to 1.57%), rent (from 0.57% to 0.74%) and condominium fees (from -0.60% to 1.18%). The increase in items apparel (from 1.08% to 1.15%) reflects the rises occurred with the launch of the new collection, as verified in the previous month. Thus, the group non-food products changed 0.52%, in May, against a variation of 0.12% in April.

Food products (from 1.71% to 1.00%), despite a lower rate than that of April, keep pressing the month result, accumulating a rise of 5.84% in the year. Four items contributed to this result: carioca beans (from 30.10% to 31.75%), pasteurized milk (from 9.63% to 4.24%), meal outside home (from 0.75% to 0.95%) and meat (from 1.24% to 1.61%). Among the decreases the highlights are: tomatoes (from 36.81% to -11.08%), fruits (from -0.92% to -2.59%) and fish (from 2.62% to -3.79%).

Group results are presented next:

Among regional indexes, the highest was that of Fortaleza, due to increases in gasoline prices (10.14%) and because of the highest result of food products 1.61%). Goiânia presented the lowest index, principally because of the great decreases in prices of gasoline (-5.10%) and ethanol fuel (-8.19%).

For the calculation of IPCA-15, prices collected between April 14 and May 13 were compared to those in effect between March 16 and April 13. The indicator refers to families with monthly income ranging from one 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 is the same used for IPCA; the difference lies in the period of price collection.