The Extended National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) in March rose 1.62%, 0.61 percentage points (pp) above the 1.01% rate in February. This is the biggest change for a month of March since 1994, when the index was 42.75%, in the period before the implementation of the Real. In the year, the IPCA accumulates a high of 3.20% and, in the last 12 months, of 11.30% - above the 10.54% observed in the 12 previous months. In March 2021, the monthly change was 0.93%.

Eight of the nine groups of products and services surveyed had highs in March. The biggest change (3.02%) and the biggest impact (0.65 pp) came from Transportation, which accelerated in comparison with the result of February (0.46%). Then came the Food and Beverages, up 2.42% and with 0.51 pp of impact. Together, the two groups contributed around 72% of the March IPCA. In addition to them, there was also acceleration in the groups Wearing apparel (1.82%), Housing (1.15%) and Health and personal care (0.88%). The only one with a drop was Communication, with -0.05%. The others were between the 0.15% of Education and 0.59% for Personal expenses.

The result of the Transportation group (3.02%) was mainly influenced by the increase in fuel prices (6.70%), in particular, gasoline (6.95%), subitem with the greatest individual impact (0.44 pp) in the index for the month. It is worth mentioning that, on March 11, the average sale price of gasoline from Petrobras to distributors was increased by 18.77%. In addition, there were increases in the prices of vehicular gas (5.29%), ethanol (3.02%) and diesel fuel (13.65%). The last two jointly contributed with 0.06 pp to the March IPCA.

In addition to fuel, the acceleration of the Transportation group is also related to the rise in the prices of some services, such as ride sharing (7.98%), voluntary excess (3.93%) and car repair (1 .47%). New (0.47%) and used cars (0.76%) also continued to rise, although the changes were smaller than those of the previous month (1.68% and 1.51%, respectively). In public transportation, the positive change in urban buses (1.27%) is due to increases in ticket prices in Curitiba (20.22%), with an increase of 22.23% as of March 1st; São Luís (5.14%) with an increase of 5.40%, in force since February 27; Recife (4.86%), rise of 9.33%, in effect since February 13; and Belém (1.11%) with a rise of 11.11%, since March 28.

Also in Transportation, the drop highlight was airfare, with a -7.33% change and -0.03 pp of impact. The methodology applied in the IPCA considers trips booked two months in advance, that is, the change seen in the month reflects the price collection made in January for trips carried out in March.

On the other hand, the acceleration in Food and beverages (2.42%) is mainly due to the rise in the prices of food for consumption at home (3.09%). The biggest contribution (0.08 pp) within the group came from tomatoes, whose prices rose 27.22% in March. In addition, increases were registered in several products, such as carrots (31.47%), which accumulates an increase of 166.17% in 12 months, long-life milk (9.34%), soybean oil (8, 99%), fruit (6.39%) and French roll (2.97%).

In food away from home (0.65%), meals, which had remained close to stability in February (0.02%), registered an increase of 0.60% in March. Snacks, on the other hand, had a high of 0.76%, compared to the 0.85% observed in the previous month.

Another group to accelerate from February to March was Wearing apparel, up 1.82%. All the items that make up the group had a positive change, especially women's apparel (2.32%) and footwear and accessories (2.05%). The prices of jewelry, which had fallen in February (-0.36%), rose again (1.18%).

The Housing group had a rise of 1.15% in March, driven by the increase in bottled gas prices (6.57%). On March 11, there was an increase of 16.06% in the average sale price of LPG to distributors. In addition, the 1.08% increase in electricity also contributed to the group's results. The changes in the areas ranged from -3.18% in Recife, where there was a reduction in PIS/COFINS, to 4.66% in Rio de Janeiro, where rises of 15.58% and 17.30% were applied in the two concessionaires of energy surveyed, both as of March 15th.

Also in Housing, the rise of 4.23% in piped gas stands out. In Curitiba (24.75%), gas tariffs were up 26% on February 25th. In Rio de Janeiro (5.02%), a rise was applied on February 12, 2.95%, and another on March 16, 7.72%. The positive change in the water and sewage fee (0.11%) results from the increases in Aracaju (4.79%), of 5.00%, in effect since March 1st; Goiânia (0.89%) with an increase of 8.98%, in effect since February 1st; and Fortaleza (0.22%), increase of 6.71%, implemented on January 30th.

The result of the group Health and personal care (0.88%) was mainly influenced by the increases in personal hygiene items (2.25%) and pharmaceutical products (1.32%). Health plans (-0.69%) continue with a negative change, reflecting the negative adjustment of -8.19% applied by the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) last year.

All areas surveyed had a rise in March. The greatest change occurred in the metropolitan area of Curitiba (2.40%), where the increases in gasoline (11.55%), ethanol (8.65%) and urban buses (20.22%) were the main factors. The smallest change was registered in the municipality of Rio Branco (1.35%), where there was a drop in the prices of airfare (-11.33%) and whole chicken (-2.10%).

To calculate the monthly index, prices collected between February 26 and March 30, 2022 (reference) were compared with prices in force between January 29 and February 25, 2022 (base). The IPCA has been calculated by the IBGE since 1980, it refers to families with a monetary income from 01 to 40 minimum wages, whatever the source, and covers ten metropolitan areas of the country, in addition to the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande, Rio Branco, São Luís, Aracaju and Brasília.

INPC rose 1.71% in March

The National Consumer Price Index (INPC) rose 1.71% in March, above the result of the previous month (1.00%). This is the biggest change for a month of March since 1994, when the index was 43.08%, in the period that preceded the implementation of the Real. The INPC accumulates an increase of 3.42% in the year and 11.73% in the last 12 months, above the 10.80% observed in the 12 previous months. In March 2021, the rate was 0.86%.

Food products increased from 1.25% in February to 2.39% in March. Non-food items also accelerated and registered 1.50%, compared to the 0.92% change in the previous month.

As for the regional indices, all areas surveyed had price increases in March. The lowest result occurred in the metropolitan area of ​​Belém (1.44%), due to the decrease in electricity (-2.98%). The biggest change, in turn, was in the metropolitan region of Curitiba (2.54%), influenced by increases of 11.55% in gasoline and 20.22% in urban buses.

To calculate the monthly index, prices collected between February 26 and March 30, 2022 (reference) were compared with prices in force between January 29 and February 25, 2022 (base). The INPC has been calculated by the IBGE since 1979, it refers to families with a monetary income of 01 to 05 minimum wages, with a salaried head of household, and covers ten metropolitan areas of the country, in addition to the municipalities of Goiânia, Campo Grande, Rio Branco, São Luís , Aracaju and Brasília.