The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) was 0.23% in May, standing 0.38 percentage points (p.p.) below the April´s rate (0.61%). In the year, the IPCA accumulated an increase of 2.95% and, in the last 12 months, of 3.94%, below the rate of 4.18% recorded in the previous 12 months.  The change had been 0.47% in May 2022.

Of the nine groups of products and services surveyed, seven rose in May, being Health and personal care the one with the biggest impact (0.12 p.p.) and the highest change (0.93%). It was followed by Housing (0.67%) and Personal expenses (0.64%), contributing with 0.10 p.p. and 0.07 p.p., respectively. The prices of Transportation (-0.57%) and Household articles (-0.23%) retreated in May. The other changes ranged between 0.05% in Education and 0.47% in Wearing apparel.

In Health and personal care (0.93%), the highlights were health insurance plans (1.20%), the items of personal hygiene (1.13%), highlighted by the rise in perfumes (3.56%), and pharmaceuticals (0.89%), after the authorization of the adjustment of up to 5.60% in the price of medicines since March 31. 

In the group of Housing (0.67%), the biggest contribution (0.05 p.p.) came from water and sewage fees (2.67%), due to adjustments applied in six areas: Recife (10.79%), with an adjustment of 11.20% since April 28; São Paulo (6.17%), with an adjustment of 9.56% since May 10; Aracaju (4.60%), with an adjustment of 4.92% since May 1st; Curitiba (3.44%), with an adjustment of 8.20% since May 17; Belém (0.54%), with an adjustment of 8.33% since May 28; and Goiânia (0.44%), with an adjustment of 7.02% since April 1st.  

Residential electricity (0.91% and 0.04 p.p.) also rose, due to adjustments applied in six areas: Salvador (5.95%), with an adjustment of 8.28% since April 22; Recife (5.18%), with an adjustment of 8.33% since May 14; Fortaleza (3.71%), with an adjustment of 4.85% since April 22; Campo Grande (2.47%), with an adjustment of 9.80% since April 8; Belo Horizonte (1.48%), with an adjustment of 14.69% since May 28; and Aracaju (1.47%), with an adjustment of 1.82% since April 22. 

Still in Housing, the drop in the prices of piped gas (-0.59%) was due to the reduction of 3.05% in the fare in Curitiba (-2.85%) and of 0.59% in Rio de Janeiro (-0.55%), both of them since May 1st.  

In Personal expenses (0.64%), the rise of 12.18% in games by chance stood out, after an average adjustment of 15.00% in the bets since April 30. Cinema, theater and concerts (1.06%), animal food (0.95%) and domestic workers (0.24%) rose in May as well. 

The deceleration registered in Food and beverages (from 0.71% to 0.16%) was influenced by food at home, which recorded a change from 0.73% in April to a stability in May. On the rising side, the highlights were tomatoes (6.65%), long-life milk (2.37%) and French bread (1.40%). On the other hand, the prices of fruits (-3.48%), soybean oil (-7.11%) and meat (-0.74%) dropped.

Food away from home changed 0.58%, below that reported in the previous month (0.66%). The prices of snacks (from 0.93% in April to 0.71% in May) and of meals (from 0.51% in April to 0.47% in May) decelerated. 

The drop in the group of Transportation (-0.57% and -0.12 p.p.) was influenced by the retreat in the prices of airfare (-17.73%). In addition, the result of fuels (-1.82%) stood out, due to the drops in diesel fuel (-5.96%), gasoline (-1.93%) and vehicular gas (-1.01%). Ethanol (0.38%) was the only fuel that increased in May.

Also in Transportation, subway fares (0.91%) were increased by 6.15% in Rio de Janeiro (2.53%), starting on April 12. The rise of 2.83% in urban bus fares was due to the adjustment of 33.33% in Belo Horizonte (25.00%), starting on April 23. As for intercity buses (0.15%), the average rise reached 5.77% in Campo Grande (0.78%), since April 1st.

In the analysis of regional indexes, only one area dropped in May. The highest change was in Fortaleza (0.56%), especially influenced by games of chance (12.18%) and residential electricity (3.71%). The lowest change was reported in São Luís (-0.38%), influenced by the drops of 7.63% in whole chicken and of 5.87% in gasoline.

In order to estimate the index of the month, the prices collected from April 29 to May 29, 2023 (reference) were compared with the prices in force from March 30 to April 28 (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. 

IPCA stays at 0.36% in May

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) rose 0.36% in May, below that registered in the previous month (0.53%). In the year, the INPC had a cumulative increase of 2.79% and, in the last 12 months, of 3.74%, being below the rate of 3.83% observed in the immediately previous 12 months.  In May 2022, the rate had been 0.45%.

Food products increased 0.16% in May, after rising 0.61% in April. Non-food products rose by 0.43%, decelerating in relation to the result of April, 0.50%.

Prices retreated only in São Luís (-0.33%), where the drop in the prices of whole chicken  (-7.63%) and gasoline (-5.87%) weighted. The highest change, in turn, was in Belo Horizonte (0.79%), leveraged by the rise of 25.00% in urban bus.

In order to estimate the index of the month, the prices collected from April 29 to May 29, 2023 (reference) were compared with the prices in force from March 30 to April 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, 23% em maio