The Extended National Consumer Price Index - IPCA stayed at 1.01% in February, 0.47 percentage points above the rate registered in January (0.54%). That was the highest change for February since 2015, when the index had been 1.22%. The indicator recorded an increase of 1.56% in the year and of 10.54% in 12 months. In February 2021, the change was of 0.86%.

All the groups of products and services surveyed rose in February. The biggest impact (0.31 percentage points) and the biggest change (5.61%) came from Education. In the sequence was Food and beverages (1.28%), which accelerated in relation to January (1.11%) and accounted for 0.27 percentage points. The two groups represented about 57% of the IPCA in February. Transportation (0.46%), (0.46%), whose change had been negative in January (-0.11%), and Housing (0.54%) also stood out. The other groups ranged between 0.29% (Communication) and the second biggest change in the month, of 1.76% (Household appliances).

In the group Education (5.61%), are incorporated into the IPCA, in February, the price adjustments usually established in the beginning of the school year. The main impact (0.28 p.p.) was that of regular courses (6.67%), with a highlight to elementary education (8.06%), pre-school (7.67%) and high school (7.53%). The prices of higher education courses and post-graduate courses rose 5.82% and 2.79%, respectively. Ands miscellaneous courses, in turn, rose3.91%, being the biggest change in the item language courses (7.29%). 

The result of Food and beverages (1.28%) was influenced by the more significant increase of food products for consumption at home (1.65%). The highlights were, mainly, rises in potato (23.49%) and carrots (55.41%), (55.41%), which, altogether, accounted for about 0.08 p.p. of the monthly index. As for carrots, the changes ranged between 39.26% in São Paulo up to 88.15% in Vitória. Fruits rose 3.55%, a change that is close to that a month ago. (3.40%). On the other hand, there were significant decreases in the prices of whole chicken (-2.29%) and of chicken pieces (-1.35%). In January, the decreases were of -0.85% and -0.71%, respectively.

Food away from home (0.30%) had a similar change to that in the previous month (0.25%). Whereas snacks went from a decrease of 0.41% to an increase of 0.85%, meals did the opposite and decelerated from 0.44% to 0.02%.

In the group Transportation (0.46%), the biggest contribution (0.05 p.p.) came from  new cars (1.68%), whose prices rose for the 18th month in a row.  Prices of used cars (1.51%) and motorcycles (1.72%) are also high. Other highlights were car insurance (3.24%),  car repair (0.92%) and urban buses (0.45%), the latter due to price adjustments in fares charged in capitals such as Fortaleza (4.38%), Recife (4.27%), Campo Grande (2.80%) and Vitória (1.73%). In addition to that, prices of  intercity buses (0.38%) and interestate buses  (1.36%) also rose in some locations. And the rise of the subitem  taxi (0.88%), in turn, was due to the adjustment in fares (9.75%) in Rio de Janeiro (3.87%).

Also in Transportation,  fuels (-0.92%) stood out with a decrease for the third month in a row, being the most significant one that of  ethanol (-5.04%). The price of  gasoline fell by 0.47%. On the other hand, changes were observed in the prices of diesel (1.65%) and  vehicle gas (2.77%).

In the group Housing (0.54%), the biggest contributions came from residential rent (0.98%) and condominium fees (0.83%), with impacts of 0.04 p.p. and ,02 p.p., respectively. Also,  electricity rose 0.15%, after an increase of 1.07% observed in January. It is worth pointing out that “water scarcity” tariff flag has been in effect since September, adding R$14.20 to the electricity bill per 100 kWh consumed. The monthly result was also affected by the rise of  water and sewage rate (0.65%) and of bottled gas (0.45%).

Among Household articles (1.76%), grouo with the second biggest chnage in the monthly index, the highlights were increases in household appliances and equipment  (318%) and furniture (2.43%), which accounted for 0.03 p.p. each. In the last 12 months, changes were of 17.85% and 18.31%, respectively.

As for the regional indexes, all the areas registered a positive change in February. The biggest change was that of São Luís (1.33%), due to regular courses (7.14%) and meats (3.01%). The lowest result was that of the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre (0.43%), due to the fall of gasoline prices (-4.33%).

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. It encompasses ten metropolitan areas in Brazil, besides the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande, Rio Branco, São Luís, Aracaju and Brasília.

In order to measure the index of the month the prices collected from January 29 to February 25, 2022 (reference) were compared with the ones in effect from December 29, 2021 to January 28, 2022 (base).

Due to the sanitary emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the IBGE suspended onsite price data collection on March 18, 2020. As of this date, prices began to be collected through other means, such as surveys on Internet sites, by phone or email. In the beginning of July 2021, the IBGE gradually resumed onsite data collection at some establishments, as provided for in Ordinance no. 207/2021 of the Presidency of the IBGE.

INPC changed by 1.00% in February

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) of February recorded an increase of 1.00%, which was above the figure in the previous month (0.67%). That is the highest change for February since 2015, when the index was 1.16%. The cumulative INPC in the year is 1.68% and, in the last 12 months, at 10.80%, above the rate of 10.60% registered in the 12 immediately previous months. In February 2021, the rate was 0.82%.

Food products went from 1.08% in January to 1.25% in February. Non-food products also recorded an increase in February (0.92%) from January (0.54%)”, says Kislanov.

Regarding regional indexes, all the areas surveyed recorded price rises in February. The lowest result was that of the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre (0.40%), due to the fall of gasoline prices (-4.33%). The biggest change, in turn,was that of São Luís (1.35%), mainly due to the rise in regular courses (7.67%) and in personal hygiene items (2.27%).

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.

In order to measure the index of the month the prices collected from January 29 to February 25, 2022 (reference) were compared with the ones in effect from December 29, 2021 to January 28, 2022 (base).