Brasília, 12/10/2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - "Focus," the Central Bank's weekly survey of economic, financial and consultancy institutions, now shows that market estimates for inflation for this year and next have risen. The market forecast for 2002 inflation has risen from 11%, in the last survey, to 11.63%, in the latest survey.

The prior forecast by the market for 2003 inflation of 11.68% has now risen to 11.83%.

The inflation forecasts are all based on the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA) which is used by the government as an inflation gauge and for setting its own inflation targets, as well as inflation targets in the Brazil-IMF agreement. The targets in the latter were: 5.5% for this year, and 6.5% for next year; give or take two percentage points. (AB)