Rio, May 6, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Weekly Consumer Price Index (IPC-S), released yesterday in Rio by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV), for the period between March 27 and April 26, registered a variation of 1.16%. This result was 0.06% less than for the previous period and represents the second consecutive decline in the IPC-S, after an increase of 1.28% in the 30-day period ending April 14. This reinforces the perception of a gradual fall in the rate of inflation, according to the FGV.

The result also reveals a reversal in the positions of the sectors that weigh most heavily in the index. The food sector retreated from 1.77% to 1.40%, cancelling the effect of higher tomato prices, while residential expenses grew from 1.10% to 1.30%, making up for 34.10% of the increase in the index. (DAS)