Food expenses drive inflation.

Brazil Agency - Brazilian consumers paid an average of 0,6% more for services and consumer goods in the last week of March compared to the immediately preceding period, according to the Weekly Consumer Price Index (IPC-S), measured by the Brazilian Institute of Economics of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (Ibre/FGV). This represents an increase of 0,09 percentage points compared to the rate in the third week of the month.

For the year to date, the indicator has risen by 1,66% compared to the same period in 2011. Considering the last 12 months, inflation has increased by 5,5%.

All seven expense categories that make up the IPC-S showed price increases. The largest increase was found in the food group, whose rate went from 0,52% in the previous week to 0,63% in the latest survey. Among the items that are part of the group, beef (from -2,06% to -1,05%), dairy products (from 0,17% to 0,49%) and processed meats and fish (from 0,51% to 1,04%) stand out.

The other categories also showed increases: clothing (from 0,27% to 0,61%), education, reading and recreation (from 0,28% to 0,46%), health and personal care (from 0,6% to 0,71%), communication (from -0,28% to -0,21%), transport (from 0,2% to 0,26%), miscellaneous expenses (from 0,12% to 0,14%) and housing (from 1,02% to 1,03%).

For each of these groups, the behavior of the following items stands out: clothing (from 0,27% to 0,78%), airfare (from -2,77% to -0,65%), hygiene and personal care items (from 0,89% to 1,37%), mobile phone tariff (from -0,01% to 0,33%), ethanol (from -0,51% to 0,70%), pet food (from -0,59% to -0,51%), and residential water and sewage rate (from 1,85% to 2,44%), respectively.