With a monthly change of 2.84% in September, food products accumulated 2.91% in 2011. In the first quarter, the sector had accumulated a negative change of –0.30%, which was more noticeable in the second quarter (-4.25%).

It was the positive changes observed in the last quarter (7.79%) that guaranteed the positive rate observed. In the index accumulated in 12 months, the series started in December of 2010 recorded in September the lowest change (15.11%). Cocoa butter and beef sausages or salami were highlights in the three indicators; the first one with a negative change and the second one with a positive change. Demerara sugar, including VHP sugar, registered positive changes in the monthly indicator and in the comparison with September of 2010, whereas the two products of coffee roasting and grinding were positive highlights in the accumulated indicators in 2011 and in 12 months. Concentrated orange juice saw a considerable change over the previous month. Crystallized sugar and refined sugarcane positively influenced the change observed in the comparison with the same month a year ago. Soya beans extraction residues and concentrated orange juice stood out in the comparisons with the previous month (both positive) and with September of 2010 (positive in the case of the juice and negative in the case of the residues). Roasted and ground coffee saw significant changes in terms of influence for the indicator accumulated in 2011.

On a month over month basis, the prices of textiles recorded a negative change of –0.6% in September of 2011.

Thus, as observed in the last months, the sector presented a decline in prices, though in a lower level (-2.01% in August). Despite the recent drops, the indices relative to the year accumulated indicator and to the accumulated indicator in 12 months were positive: 4.05% and 12.87%, respectively. Colored or printed cotton fabric, excluding blends, and colored or printed cotton fabric, including blends, exerted positive influences in the accumulated indicator in 2011 and in 12 months, but a negative influence on the monthly indicator. Cotton bath linen, including the textile weaving phase, exerted a positive influence on the three indicators. At last, single cotton yarn was a negative highlight both in terms of change and influence on the accumulated indicator.

Footwear and leather products

changed 2.71% in comparison with the previous month, increasing the accumulated index in the year from 10.75% in August to 13.75% in September. Among the four products with the highest weights in the calculus, only textile or synthetic (assembled) tennis shoes were not highlights in the monthly change and influence. In this sector, the currency depreciation of September impacted the performance of prices, considering the insertion of the sector, particularly of leather products, in exports.

Mainly due to the exports prices, given the appreciation of the dollar in almost 10% over September, wood recorded a positive change in prices of 3.39% in September over August, the highest positive change since May of 2010. Despite that, the activity still registers a negative change of –0.62% in the accumulated indicator of the year. Considering the last twelve months, the indicator accumulates a positive change of 0.54%. Sawn, planned or polished wood recorded a positive change for the indicator accumulated in the year and compared with September of 2010. In relation to this last indicator, wood wool panels also registered a positive change.

The prices of petroleum refinement and alcohol products recorded a positive change of 0.20% over the previous month, inverting the rate of –0.28% of August. The indicator of September continued the upward trend in the index accumulated in the year, recording 3.76% between January and September and returning to the levels of July of 2011, when the index of the year hit 3.84%. In the last 12 months, the increase of September was of 6.31% against 6.50% in August. The change in the trend is mainly due to the increase in the prices of ethyl alcohol, even though the advances were less intense than in the previous months. The highlight positive influences on the monthly indicator were diesel fuel and other fuel oils and naphtha, whereas gasoline registered a negative influence. The four products, altogether, were responsible for 0.20 p.p. of the monthly indicator. Naphtha, aviation kerosene, ethyl alcohol and basic lubricants added up positive influences in the accumulated indicators in the year and in 12 months.

Other chemical products

presented a change of 2.63% in comparison with the previous month. This result means a change of trend, after the drops in August (-2.00%) and July (-2.09%). In the year, the sector accumulated a high of 7.51%, and in the last twelve months, a positive change of 11.20%. Part of the products connected to the petrochemical industry recorded a positive change in the month, such as polyethylene, ethylene and propane products. The same occurred with the sector of manufacture of manure and fertilizers, particularly, NPK products. The rise, at the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011, of products connected to the petroleum chain sustains the prices of propane, polypropylene and NPK fertilizers and manure as the highlights of the indicator accumulated in 2011. Conversely, the recent drops in the prices of ethylene represent a negative influence on the accumulated indicator of the year. The scenario is similar for the accumulated indicator in 12 months: the positive highlights were propane, polypropylene and NPK fertilizers; the negative highlight was ethylene.

After three consecutive months of contraction, basic metals recorded a positive price change of 1.20% in the month, mainly due to the appreciation of the dollar. Despite that, the activity still registers a negative change of –1.07% in the accumulated indicator of the year and of 2.83% in the last 12 months. The products to exert the major influences on the increase of September were steel carbon ingots, blocks, rods or plates, and unwrought non-alloy aluminum: highlights both in the monthly change and influence. Steel carbon ingots, blocks, rods or plates recorded a positive value for the accumulated indicator in the year, while, for the accumulated indicator in 12 months, the positive change was registered by aluminum square and round plates and stripes. In terms of influence, in the accumulated indicator in 12 months, the highlights were unwrought non-alloy aluminum and steel carbon ingots, blocks, rods or plates.

Computer, electronic and optical products

recorded a change in prices of –1.45% in September, the highest monthly negative change since July of 2011. The activity registers negative changes of –11.70% in 2011 and –13.49% in 12 months. The products that exerted the highest influences on the monthly index were cell phones (negative); image tubes for television receivers and video monitors (positive); PC desktops (positive); and radio receivers for any purpose, including the ones combined with other apparatus (negative). They were responsible for 1.53 p.p. of the rate (-1.45%). Cell phones were a highlight both in terms of change and influence (negative). Particularly, the depreciation of the real in September influenced the prices of PC desktops, a fact that had occurred only five times since the beginning of the series.

In September of 2011, the Producer Price Index (IPP) changed 1.23% compared with the previous month; a higher result when compared with the one of August (0.16%).

When compared with the same month a year ago (accumulated in 12 months), prices changed 4.90% in September and 4.24% in August. Conversely, the accumulated change in 2011 was of 1.99% in September and of 0.75% in the previous month.

The IPP measures the evolution of "factory gate prices", discounted taxes and freight, of 23 sectors of the manufacturing industry.

The complete publication can be accessed at www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/precos/ipp.

17 of the 23 activities surveyed registered a high in prices

In September of 2011, 17 of the 23 activities surveyed registered a high in prices, against 11 in the previous month. The four major changes between September and August were tobacco (6.74%), other transportation equipment (4.98%), wood (3.39%) and food products (2.84%). The items to exert the greatest influence, or impact, on the change of September against August (1.23%) were food products (0.53 percentage points), other chemical products (0.28 p.p.), basic metals (0.10 p.p.) and other transportation equipment (0.09 p.p.).

The accumulated indicator of 2011 reached 1.99% in September against 0.75% in August. Among the activities that registered the highest percentage changes as to the accumulated indicator, the highlights were footwear and leather (13.75%); computer, electronic and optical products (-11.70%); rubber and plastic (8.23%) and other chemical products (7.51%). The sectors to exert the greatest influence were other chemical products (0.77 p.p.); food products (0.55 p.p.); computer, electronic and optical products (-0.42 p.p.) and petroleum refinement and alcohol products (0.41 p.p.).

When compared with the same month of 2010 (accumulated in 12 months), prices rose 4.90% in September, against 4.24% in August. The four major price changes came from footwear and leather (16.33%); food products (15.11%); computer, electronic and optical products (-13.49%) and textiles (12.87%). The major influences in the comparison of September against the same month a year ago came from food products (2.61 p.p.); other chemical products (1.14 p.p.); petroleum refinement and alcohol products (0.69 p.p.) and computer, electronic and optical products (-0.51 p.p.).