The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) was 0.71% in March and stayed 0.13 percentage points (p.p.) below the February´s rate (0.84%). In the year, the IPCA recorded an increase of 2.09% and, in the last 12 months, of 4.65%, below the rate of 5.60% registered in the immediately previous 12 months. The monthly change had been 1.62% in March 2022.

Of the nine groups of products and services surveyed, eight rose in March. The exception was Household articles (-0.27%), which had risen 0.11% in February. The biggest impact (0.43 p.p.) and the highest change (2.11%) in the month´s index came from Transportation. It was followed by Health and personal care (0.82%) and Housing (0.57%), which decelerated over the previous month, contributing with 0.11 p.p. and 0.09 p.p., respectively. The other groups ranged between 0.05% in Food and beverages and 0.50% in Communication.

In Transportation (2.11%), the major highlight was gasoline (8.33%), the sub-item with the biggest individual impact on the month´s index (0.39 p.p.). Ethanol (3.20%) rose as well, whereas vehicular gas (-2.61%) and diesel fuel (-3.71%) remained dropping. Having retreated 9.38% in February, airfare dropped 5.32% in March.

Still in Transportation, taxi fare (0.52%) was adjusted by 11.54% in Belo Horizonte (5.43%) since February 13. Intercity bus (0.90%) in the metropolitan areas of Rio de Janeiro (8.62%) was adjusted on February 18, as well as urban bus (0.84%) in four areas: Curitiba (9.09%), adjusted by 9.09% on March 1st, Fortaleza (6.04%), adjusted by 15.75% on March 19, Campo Grande (5.68%), adjusted by 5.68% on March 1st, and São Luís (5.26%), adjusted by 7.69% on February 19. 

It should also be registered the rise of 6.35% in the sub-item train, which reflected the adjustment occurred in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro (13.85%), where the tariffs were adjusted by 48% on February 9. On the other hand, the rise in toll (0.24%) was a consequence of the adjustments in the toll stations in Porto Alegre (1.46%) and Curitiba (0.93%). 

The result of the group of Health and personal care  (0.82%) was mainly influenced by the rise of 1.20% in health plans, which continues to incorporate the monthly fractions of new and old plans related to the 2022-2023 cycle. The items of personal hygiene (0.72%) registered a less intense change than in the previous month (2.80%). Makeup articles rose 4.80%, whereas skincare products dropped 2.42% in March.

In the group of Housing (0.57%), the major contribution (0.09 p.p.) came from residential electricity (2.23%). The changes in the areas varied from -0.65% in Belém, where PIS/COFINS reduced and the ICMS increased, to 9.79% in Porto Alegre, where the tariffs of the transmission (TUST) and distribution (TUSD) systems were reintroduced in the calculation basis of the ICMS, as in other areas like Belo Horizonte (4.43%), Curitiba (3.88%) and Vitória (2.86%). In Rio de Janeiro (2.57%), adjustments of 7.49% and 6.00% were applied in the two concessionaires surveyed, both in effect on March 15. 

The rise of 0.03% in water and sewage fees was due to the residual adjustment of 11.81% in Salvador (0.66%) on January 30. The drop in piped gas (-0.11%) was a consequence of the reduction of 2.86% in the fare in Rio de Janeiro (-0.37%), in force since February 1st. 

The result of the group of Food and beverages (0.05%) was influenced by the deceleration of food at home, which changed from 0.04% in February to -0.14% in March. More intense drops were recorded in the prices of potatoes (-12.80%) and soybean oil (-4.01%), as well as retreats in the prices of onions (-7.23%), tomatoes (-4.02%) and meat (-1.06%). On the rising side, carrots (28.58%) and hen eggs (7.64%) stood out. 

Food away from home changed 0.60%, above that reported in the previous month (0.50%). While snacks accelerated from 0.57% to 1.09%, meals (0.41%) stayed close to February (0.38%). 

The result in Household articles (-0.27%), the only group with a negative change in March, was pressed by the drop in the prices of items TV, sound and computers (-1.77%), mainly TVs (-2.15%) and personal computers (-1.08%). Household appliances and equipment (-0.23%) also dropped, after rising 0.45% in February. 

All the areas rose in March. The highest change was in Porto Alegre (1.25%), due to the rises in gasoline (10.63%) and residential electricity (9.79%). The lowest change was in Fortaleza (0.35%), where tomatoes fell 17.94% and whole chicken, 2.91%.

In order to measure the index of the month the prices collected from March 1st to 29, 2023 (reference) were compared with the ones in effect from January 28 to February 28, 2023 (base). The IPCA has been calculated by the IBGE since 1980. It refers to households with monthly income of 1 to 40 minimum wages, whatever the source and encompasses ten metropolitan areas in Brazil, besides the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande, Rio Branco, São Luís, Aracaju and Brasília. 

INPC rises 0.64% in March

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) rose 0.64% in March, below that registered in the previous month (0.77%). In the year, the INPC accumulated a rise of 1.88% and, in the last 12 months, of 4.36%, below the rate of 5.47% registered in the 12 immediately previous months. In March 2022, the rate had been 1.71%. 

Food products fell 0.07% in March, after rising 0.04% in February. Non-food products recorded a rise of 0.87%, decelerating in relation to the result of 1.01% reported in February. 

All the areas registered a positive change in March. The lowest result was registered in Belo Horizonte (0.26%), where the drop in the prices of potatoes (-18.88%) and fruits (-11.60%) weighted. The highest change, in turn, occurred in Porto Alegre (1.37%), leveraged by the rises of 10.63% in gasoline and of 9.69% in electricity.

In order to measure the index of the month the prices collected from March 1st to 29, 2023 (reference) were compared with the ones in effect from January 28 to February 28, 2023 (base). The INPC has been calculated by the IBGE since 1979. It refers to households with monthly income of 1 to 5 minimum wages, with a salaried head of the household. It encompasses ten metropolitan areas in Brazil, besides the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande, Rio Branco, São Luís, Aracaju and Brasília.

Keywords: IPCA foi de 0, 71% em março