The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) of March 0.93%, 0.07 percentage points above the February rate (0.86%). That is the highest result for a month of March since 2015, when inflation was 1.32%. Cumulative IPCA increase in the year was 2.05% and, in the last 12 months, 6.10%, above the 5.20% relative to the previous 12 months. In March 2020, the change had been of 0.07%.

Among the nine groups of products and services surveyed, six recorded increases in March. Transportation recorded the biggest change (3.81%), after an increase of 2.28% in February, and the main impact (0.77 p.p.) on the monthly index. In the second position came Housing, with an increase of 0.81% and an impact of 0.12 p.p. Food and beverages (0.13%), in turn, remains on a downward trend and accounted for 0.03 p.p. of the March index. In terms of decreases, Education stood out and recorded -0.52% following an increase of 2.48% in the previous month. The other groups ranged between 0.07% in Communication and 0.69% inHousehold articles.

The result of Transportation (3,81%) was mainly due to the rise of fuel prices (11.23%).Gasoline (11.26%) was the item accounting for the main impact on the monthly index (0.60 p.p.), with changes ranging from 6.32% in São Luís to 14.45% in Rio de Janeiro. Prices ofethanol (12.59%) anddiesel (9.05%) also rose, and accounted for 0.11 p.p. more to the overall result in March .

Other rising prices were those of tires (3.27%), car insurance (2.62%) used cars (1.00%) and new cars (0.68%). However, the cost of car rental (-14.02%) andapp transportation (-3.42%).

Also in Transportation, the adjustment (6.38%) of train fares in Rio de Janeiro cotributed to the national result of the subitem (1.84%), as well as the adjustmen (8.70%) in urban buses in Recife, which also affected the national result of the subitem (0.11%).

The secoond main impact (0.12 p.p.) on the IPCA came from Housing (0.81%), mainly due to bottled gas (4.98%), with a cumulative rise of 20.011% in the last 12 months. In addition to that, electricity (0.76%), which had decreased 0.71% in the preceding month, also rose; it is worth mentioning that the yellow tariff flag was kept in March and, in Rio de Janeiro (1.47%), with price adjustments of 4.66% and 4.50% in electricity questionnaires.

Also in Housing, a highlight is the price change inbottled gas (1.09%), which reflects adjustments applied in February in Curitiba (8.91%), of 8.07% in the first 15 days of 15.57% in the last 15 days and in Rio de Janeiro (0,32%), of 3.50%. The positive change water and sewage rate (0.13%), in turn, is a consequence of price adjustments of 5.11% in Curitiba (1.08%) and of 5.36% in Aracaju (0.48%).

The group Food and beverages (0.13%) has been on a downward trend since December (with changes of 1.74%, 1.02% and 0.27% in December, January and February, respectively).

Food at home recorded a decrease of 0.17%, mainly affected by the fall of prices of tomato (-14.12%), of potato (-8.81%), ofrice (-2.13%) and long-life milk (-2,27%). On the other hand, beef (0.85%) remains has been on an upward trend, although the change was below that of February (1.72%).

Food away from home(0.89%) had a different behavior, having accelerated from the previous month (0.27%). Contributions to that came from the rises of snacks (1.88%) and beer (1.70%).

The group Education (-0.52%) fell, after an increase of 2.48% in February. If, on the one hand, miscellaneous courses recorded an increase of 0.69%, on the other hand, prices of regular courses fell 0.79%, mainly influenced by the result of higher education (-1.75%).

Todas as dezesseis localidades pesquisadas apresentaram variação positiva. O menor índice foi observado na região metropolitana do Recife (0,62%), principalmente por conta das quedas na energia elétrica (-2,23%) e no tomate (-21,03%). Já o maior resultado ficou com Goiânia (1,46%), onde pesaram as altas de 13,65% na gasolina e 18,43% no etanol.

O IPCA é calculado pelo IBGE desde 1980, se refere às famílias com rendimento monetário de um a 40 salários mínimos, qualquer que seja a fonte, e abrange dez regiões metropolitanas do país, além dos municípios de Goiânia, Campo Grande, Rio Branco, São Luís, Aracaju e Brasília.

Para o cálculo do índice do mês, foram comparados os preços coletados no período de 2 a 29 de março de 2021 (referência) com os preços vigentes no período de 29 janeiro a 1° de março de 2021 (base).

Cabe lembrar que, em virtude do quadro de emergência de saúde pública causado pela COVID-19, o IBGE suspendeu, no dia 18 de março de 2020, a coleta presencial de preços nos locais de compra. A partir dessa data, os preços passaram a ser coletados por outros meios, como pesquisas realizadas em sites de internet, por telefone ou por e-mail.

INPC changes by 0.86% in March

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC)rose 0.86%, being 0.04 p.p. above the result of February (0.82%). That was the highest index in March since 2015, when INPC changed by 1.51%. In the year, the index had a cumulative increase of 1.96% and, in 12 months, of 6.94% above the 6.22% of the 12 previous month. In March 2020, the rate was 0.18%.

Food products rose 0.07% in March, below the result of 0.17% observed in the previous month. Non-food products recorded an increase of 1.11%, whereas, in February, the result had been 1.03%.

All the areas recorded an increase in March. The highest index was observed in Brasília (1.38%), mainly due to the rise of gasoline prices (12.03%) and of bottled gas (5.66%). The lowest result, in turn, took place in the metropolitan area of Recife (0.57%), due to decreases in electricity (-2.29%) and tomato (-21.03%).

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The INPC has been calculated by the IBGE since 1979, and it refers to families with monetary income from 01 to 05 minimum wages, with a salaried householder and encompasses ten metropolitan areas in the country, besides the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande, Rio Branco, São Luís, Aracaju and Brasília.

To calculate the monthly index, prices colected from March 2 to 29, 2021 (reference) were compared with those in effect between January 29 and March 01, 2021 (base).