The Extended National Consumer Price Index-15 (IPCA-15) had a variation of 0.97% in February, a result which is superior to that of January (0.76%)...

The Extended National Consumer Price Index-15 (IPCA-15) had a variation of 0.97% in February, a result which is superior to that of January (0.76%). Considering the last 12 months, the rate was 6.08%, very close to the immediately previous 12 months (6.04%). In February 2010, the rate had been 0.94%.

The group Education, with a rise of 5.88%, presented the greatest variation and the strongest group contribution (0.41 percentage point, which represents 43% of the month index). This result reflects the readjustments made in the beginning of the school year, with highlights being the school fees of formal education courses, which increased 6.41% and made the strongest individual contribution in the month (0,31 percentage point). Except for Fortaleza, a metropolitan area that did not present increase due to a different readjustment date, the other areas ranged from the 4.54% of the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre and the 8.38% of Salvador. In the fees of extra courses (languages, computer, etc.), variation was 8.22%.

Still between January and February, the acceleration of IPCA-15 may also be explained by the increases experienced in Transportation (from 0.89% in January to 1.04% in February). This is due principally to the readjustments made in fares of urban buses, whose rise of 3.37% caused the contribution of 0.13 percentage point, the second individual rise in the month. Variations in the fares of urban buses were recorded in the following metropolitan areas: São Paulo (7.53%), Recife (6.29%), Salvador (5.04%), Belo Horizonte (2.94%) and Porto Alegre (1.22%). Besides, among other increases, fares of intercity buses (1.28%) and interstate buses (3.34%) also stood out.

The group Personal Expenses (from 0.74% in January to 1.17% in February) continued under the influence of domestic workers (0.91%), along with items games of chance (6.37%) and cigarettes (1.61%). Consequently, non-food products changed from 0.62% in January to 1.09% in February.

Food items showed considerable reduction in the growth pace of prices, from 1.21% in January to 0.57% in February. Meat, with a variation of -1.87%, made a -0.05 percentage point contribution, the strongest downwards. Other food products also became cheaper between months, such as carioca beans (-11.66%), potatoes (-9.15%), black turtle beans (-4.43%), rice (-1.38%) and chicken (-1.17%).

Besides food items, the groups Housing (from 0.60% in January to 0.28% in February), Apparel (from 0.83% to 0.13%) and Household Articles (from 0.58% to -0.13%) also had reduced rates between months.

The highest regional index was recorded in São Paulo (1.23%), mainly due to the rise in fares of urban buses (7.53%). The lowest index was that of Fortaleza (0.39%).

For the calculation of IPCA-15, prices collected from January 15 to February 11 were compared to those in effect from December 14 to January 14. 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 as that used for IPCA; the difference lies in the price collection period.