The cost of basic food items has increased in 16 out of 17 state capitals, according to Dieese.

Brazil Agency - The cost of a basic food basket increased in 16 capital cities in January of this year. The National Survey of the Basic Food Basket, conducted by the Inter-Union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies (Dieese), analyzed 17 capital cities. Brasília (6,36%), Aracaju (6,23%), João Pessoa (5,45%), Fortaleza (4,89%), and Goiânia (4,63%) had the most significant increases in the monthly variation.

São Paulo, in turn, has the most expensive basic food basket: R$ 713,86. Next are the cities of Florianópolis (R$ 695,59), Rio de Janeiro (R$ 692,83), Vitória (R$ 677,54), and Porto Alegre (R$ 673). Among the cities in the North and Northeast, which have a different composition of the basic food basket, the cheapest cost was observed in Aracaju, with a value of R$ 507,82; João Pessoa, R$ 538,65; and Salvador, R$ 540,01.

Compared to the same month last year, the largest accumulated increases were recorded in Natal (21,25%), Recife (14,52%), João Pessoa (14,15%) and Campo Grande (14,08%).  

Weight in the budget

Based on this survey, Dieese calculates what the minimum wage should be to support a family of four, based on the cost of the most expensive basic food basket. In January 2022, the amount should have been R$ 5.997,14, which is equivalent to 4,95 times the minimum wage of R$ 1.212.

The department also calculates the average time needed to purchase the basic food basket items. In January 2022, the time required was 112 hours and 20 minutes. In the previous month, the time required was 119 hours and 53 minutes.

Food

Among the highlights in this month's survey, the price per kilogram of ground coffee rose in all the capitals analyzed compared to December. According to Dieese, "the expectation of a crop failure in 2022/2023 and lower global coffee stocks have increased both international and domestic prices."  

Sugar also stood out, with the highest price per kilogram in 15 capital cities. In Brasília, the cost of the product increased by 4,66%. Only Florianópolis and Porto Alegre saw decreases, of 1,09% and 0,22%, respectively. The off-season is the reason given for the price increases.

Soybean oil became more expensive in 15 capital cities; only Vitória and Aracaju saw a price decrease. In Belém, which experienced the largest variation, the cost of the product increased by 5,99%. Dieese points out that the climate can affect soybean production in Brazil and that there is also high external demand for the grain and crude oil.

The good news was the reduction in the price of long-grain rice and beans. The price of rice fell in 16 of the 17 capitals surveyed. In Vitória, Espírito Santo, the drop reached 9,87%. In the case of beans, the cost was cheaper in 12 capitals. "For the carioca bean type, surveyed in the North, Northeast, Midwest, Belo Horizonte and São Paulo, the decreases ranged from -8,44% in the capital of Minas Gerais to -0,29% in Aracaju," says the Dieese note.

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