The Extended National Consumer Price Index 15 (IPCA-15) was 0.89% in August, standing 0.17 percentage points above the July´s rate (0.72%). That was the highest change for August since 2002, when the index had been 1.00%. The cumulative index in the year stayed at 5.81% and, in the last 12 months, at 9.30%, above the rate of 8.59% registered in the 12 immediately previous months. The monthly change had been 0.23% in August 2020.

Of the nine groups of products and services surveyed, eight rose their prices in August. The biggest impact (0.31 p.p.) and the highest change (1.97%) came from Housing. The second biggest contribution came from Transportation (1.11% and 0.23 p.p.), with a change close to that of the previous month (1.07%). It was followed by Food and beverages (1.02%), whose result stood above the July´s IPCA-15 (0.49%) and contributed with 0.21 p.p. to the month´s index. The group of Health and personal care (-0.29%), in turn, was the only one to drop in relation to the previous month and contributed with -0.04 p.p. to the overall index. The other groups stood between 0.19% of Communication and 1.05% of Household articles.

The result of the group of Housing (1.97%) was influenced by the rise in electricity (5.00%), which accelerated over July (4.79%) and exerted the biggest impact (0.23 p.p.) on the August´s IPCA-15. The red tariff flag level 2 was in force in the months of July and August, but it was adjusted by 52% on July 1st and began to charge R$9.492 per each 100 kWh consumed. Before that, the charge was R$6.243.

In addition, that result was a consequence of the fare adjustments of 8.92% in Belém (6.18%) since August 7; of 11.38% in São Paulo (7.60%) since July 4 in one of the concessionaires; of 8.97% in Curitiba (4.78%) since June 24; and of 9.08% in Porto Alegre (6.88%) since June 19 in one of the concessionaires, taking into account that this adjustment was not incorporated into the July´s IPCA-15 and, as a result, it was completely captured in the August´s index.

Still in Housing, the prices of bottled gas (3.79%) and piped gas (0.73%) also increased. In the piped gas sub-item, the rise was due to the adjustment of 5.70% in Rio de Janeiro (2.40%) since August 1st. The change in water and sewage fees (-0.49%) also stood out, due to the change in the methodology that charges fares in Belo Horizonte (-6.40%), in force since August 1st. A residual influence of the adjustment of 6.90% in Porto Alegre (1.84%) on July 1st also occurred.

In the group of Transportation (1.11%), the prices of fuels (2.02%) accelerated in relation to July (0.38%). The major contribution (0.12 p.p.) came from gasoline (2.05%), whose cumulative change over the last 12 months was 39.52%. The prices of ethanol (2.19%) and diesel fuel (1.37%) also rose, whereas vehicular gas dropped 0.51%.

Having risen 0.73% in July, own vehicles rose 1.06% in August. Used cars (2.58%), new cars (1.52%) and motorcycles (0.27%) remained rising and jointly contributed with 0.09 p.p. to the month´s index. Some products and services related to those sub-items, which was the case of lube oil (1.68%), tire (1.02%) and car repair (0.37%) registered a smilar behavior. The rise of 2.93% in toll was influenced by adjustments in several places since July 1st, like São Paulo (3.70%) and Curitiba (1.01%). Some toll stations in Porto Alegre (-1.44%) also reduced 10.00% since August 5.

Having risen 35.64% in July, airfare fell 10.90% in August. Still in public transportation (-0.94%), urban bus rose 0.24% with the adjustment of 5.49% in the fare in Porto Alegre (3.23%) on July 2. The rise of 0.57% in intercity bus was influenced by the adjustment of 4.83% in the fare, also in Porto Alegre (5.46%) on July 1st.

In Food and beverages (1.02%), food at home changed from 0.47% in July to 1.29% in August. The rises in tomatoes (16.06%), chicken pieces (4.48%), fruits (2.07%) and long-life milk (2.07%) contributed to that acceleration. On the other hand, the prices of onions (-6.46%), black beans (-4.04%), rice (-2.39%) and carioca beans (-1.52%) dropped.

The movement was reverse in food away from home (0.35%), influenced by the deceleration of meals (0.10%), which had risen 0.53% in June. The sub-item snacks increased 0.75% in the August´s IPCA-15.

The negative change in the group of Health and personal care (-0.29%) was influenced by the drop in the prices of personal hygiene items (-0.67%). Pharmaceuticals (-0.48%) and health plan (-0.11%) also contributed to that result.

All the 16 areas surveyed reported a positive change. The lowest figure was recorded in Belo Horizonte (0.40%), influenced by the drop in airfare (-20.05%) and water and sewage fees (-6.40%). The highest change was reported in Goiânia (1.34%), due to the rises in gasoline (6.31%) and electricity (3.60%).

To calculate the IPCA-15, prices were collected from July 14 to August 13, 2021 (reference) and compared to those in force from June 15 to July 13, 2021 (base). The indicator refers to households with monthly income of 1 to 40 minimum wages and it encompasses the metropolitan areas of Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Recife, São Paulo, Belém, Fortaleza, Salvador, Curitiba, as well as Brasília and the municipality of Goiânia. The methodology is the same as the one used for the IPCA; the difference lies in the period of price collection and in the geographic coverage.