Yara Aquino and Carolina Gonçalves       Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasília – Fuel prices in Brazil are controlled by the government; they are in a category known as administrated prices (“preços administrados”).

Yesterday, the minister of Mines and Energy, Edson Lobão,  declared that there is a possibility that the price of gasoline could be adjusted this year, but that no decision has been made by the government yet.

“An adjustment is needed. It is now nine years since prices at the pump went up. However, our concern is with inflation. That is a permanent concern. We are weighing the need for a price increase and the inflation problem,” explained the minister.

Lobão said it was the wish of the government to put off any price increase as long as possible, but that “…the need for an adjustment is such that the administration may be forced to give way to necessity.”

Asked about the size of the adjustment, Lobão said he did not want to make an estimate. “This is being examined by the Ministries of Finance and Mines and Energy. First, a number will be reached. Only after that will a decision be made. A decision that still has not been made,” said the minister.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Lobão: aumento do preço da gasolina é possível este ano