The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) was 0.23% in August, standing 0.11 percentage points (p.p) above the July rate (0.12%). The indicator recorded an increase of 3.23% in the year and of 4.61% in 12 months. The monthly change in August 2022 amounted to -0.36%.  

Among the nine groups of products and services surveyed, eight rose in August. The main positive impact (0.17 p.p.) and the highest change (1.11%) came from Housing. Health and personal care (0.58% and 0.08 p.p.) and Transportation (0.34% and 0.07 p.p.) also stood out. As for decreases, Food and beverages dropped by the third consecutive month (-0.85% and -0.18 p.p.). The other groups ranged between -0.09% from Communication and 0.69% from Education. 

The decrease observed in Food and beverages (-0.85%) was mainly due to the fall of prices of food at home (-1.26%). Other highlights were drops in potato (-12.92%), pinto beans (-8.27%), tomato (-7.91%), long life milk (-3.35%), chicken pieces (-2.57%), and meats (-1.90%). As for increases, rice (1.14%) and fruits (0.49%) rose, mainly lime (51.11%) and dwarf banana (4.90%).

Food away from home (0.22%) registered a change close to that a month ago (0.21%), due to rises in snacks (0.30%) and meals (0.18%). In July, the changes in these subitems had been of 0.49% and 0.15%, respectively.

In the group Housing (1.08%), the decrease in residential electricity (4.59% and -0.18 p.p.), influenced by the end of the payment of Itaipu bonuses, charged in invoices issued in the previous month. Also, price rises were applied to four areas: Vitória (9.64%), where the rise of 3.20% went into effect on August 7th; Belém (8.84%), with price rise of 9.40% since August 15th; São Luís (7.03%), with a rise of 10.43% in effect since August 28th; and São Paulo (3.94%), whre the price adjustment -1.13% started on July 4th, in one of the concessionnaires surveyed.

Also in Housing , the rise of water and sewage fees (0.19%) results from the price adjustments in three areas: 5.02% in Brasília (4.55%), since August 1st; 1.37% in Vitória (1.24%), since August 1st; and 3.45% in one of the concessionnaires in Porto Alegre (0.11%), since July 01st. In turn, the drop in piped gas (-0.68%) results from drops in fees in two areas of coverage: Curitiba (-1.81%), with a decrease of 2.23% since August 04th and Rio de Janeiro (-1.35%), with an average drop of 1.70%, starting on August 1st.  

The acceleration of Health and personal care (0.58%) was due to the items personal hygiene, which changed from -0.37% in July to 0.81% in August. Skin products (4.50%) and perfumes(1.57%) also rose.

In the group Transportation (0.34%), the highlights were new cars (1.71%) and gasoline (1.24%). In relation to the remaining fuels (0.87%), diesel rose by 8.54%, whereas ethanol (-4.26%) and vehicle gas (-0.72%) dropped. After the rise of 4.97% in July, airfares (-11.69%) recorded a decrease in August.  

Also in Transportation, the rise of taxi (0.43%) results from the price adjustment of 20.19% in fares effected since July 24th in Fortaleza (13.29%). It is worth mentioning the decrease in urban bus (-1.06%), as a result of the drop of 25.00% in fares in Belo Horizonte(-9.09%), since July 8th. Intercity bus (0.85%) rose by 12.90% in Salvador (5.22%) on August 10th; by 6.00% in Porto Alegre (1.17%), starting on August 1st; and 7.24% in Recife (0.96%), starting on July 10th.

The prices of Education rose by 0.69%. In regular courses (0.72%), just postgraduate courses (-0.78%) registered decreases in prices. The main changes came from technical courses (2.14%), daycare centers (1.86%) and higher education (1.12%).

Two areas recorded price drops in August. The highest change was in Fortaleza, (0.74%), due to rises in gasoline (4.98%) and residential electricity (2.76%). The lowest changes was registered in Belo Horizonte (-0.08%), driven by drops of 16.41% in air fares and 9.09% in urban bus. . 

In order to estimate the index of the month, the prices collected from July 29 to August 29, 2023 in force from June 29 to July 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 of August was 0.20%  

The The National Consumer Price Index (INPC)  rose 0.20% in August, above the figure in the previous month (-0.09%). The cumulative INPC in the year is 2.80% and, in the last 12 months, 4.06, above the rate of 3.53% registered in the 12 immediately previous months. In August 2022, the rate was -0.31%.  

Food products changed by -0.91% in August, whereas the July´s rate was 0.59%. Non-food products rose by 0.56%, above the result of 0.07% registered in July.

Two areas registered decreases in August. The lowest result was that of Belo Horizonte (-0.24%), with price drops in urban bus (9.09%) and chicken pieces (7.15%). The highest change took place in Belém (0.74%), driven by the rise of 8.82% in residential electricity.  

In order to estimate the index of the month, the prices collected from July 29 to August 29, 2023 (reference) were compared with the prices in force from June 29 to July 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.