Rio, February 10, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Inflation as measured by the General Price Index -Internal Supply (IGP-DI) rose 0.8% in January. With January's increase, the IGP-DI has risen a total of 6.22% over the past 12 months. The IGP-DI covers the period from the first to the last day of each month.

The data on which the index is based were released by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation's Brazilian Institute of Economics and point to the variation in retail prices as the chief factor contributing to the increase. The Consumer Price Index (IPC), which weighs 30% in the composition of the IGP-DI, rose 1.08% in comparison with December.

The data also show that the Wholesale Price Index (IPA), with a weight of 60%, went up 0.75% last month, while the National Construction Cost Index (INCC), with a weight of 10%, rose only 0.33%. (DAS)