Rio - The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) announced today that the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA) varied 0.33% in September, less than half of its 0.69% increase in August. In September, 2003, the rate was 0.78%.

Including the results for September, the IPCA, which is used by the government to set its targets for inflation, has risen 5.49% so far this year, less than the 8.05% registered over the same period last year. For the past 12 months the index totals an increase of 6.70%, which is also lower than the results for the preceding 12-month period (7.18%).

Food products, which declined 0.19%, evidenced a strong deceleration compared with August, when they rose 0.85%.

Among the state capitals included in the survey, the highest index was registered in Goiânia (0.77%) and the lowest in Curitiba (-0.08%). In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the IPCA varied 0.37% and 0.28%, respectively.

The IPCA is based on the expenses of families that earn between 1 and 40 minimum wages and covers the metropolitan areas of Curitiba, Belém, Fortaleza, Salvador, São Paulo, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Porto Alegre, in addition to the cities of Goiânia and Brasília.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Cristiane Ribeiro
Translator: David Silberstein
10/08/2004