Rio, December 6, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA) was 3.02% in November. This result is 1.71% higher than in October (1.31%) and 2.31% higher than in November, 2001. This information was released today by the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics).

Influenced by the dollar, November's IPCA absorbed marked increases in food and fuel prices, which together contributed 2.21% to the 3.02% total. Raises in urban bus fares and electric energy rates in some metropolitan regions also had an impact.

For the year to date (January to November), the cumulative index is 10.22%. During the same period last year, it attained 6.98%. Over the past twelve months, the cumulative index stands at 10.93%, greater than the result for the immediately preceding twelve-month period (8.45%).

The highest regional index was observed in Brasília (3.91%), and the lowest, in Belo Horizonte (2.58%). (DAS)