Cristiane Ribeiro
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - The Consumer Confidence Index (Índice de Confiança do Consumidor), which is based on a monthly survey by the Fundação Getúlio Vargas, fell slightly over one full point in March, from 108.2 to 107.1. In general the survey found that interviewee optimisim about the future was down, while the present situation was seen as better.

Thus, the percentage of interviewees who said their family financial situation was good rose from 18.7% to 19.5%.

On the other hand, there was a sharp drop in the percentage of consumers who said they had plans to buy durable goods, down from 16.8% to 12.6%. That drop was reflected in the so-called Expectations Index, which went from 109.4 to 107.1.

The survey was conducted in Brazil's seven main cities where 2,000 households were visited. The latest survey took place between March 1 and 22.

Translation: Allen Bennett