According to data released by the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) this Thursday (9), official inflation measured by IPCA (Extended National Consumer Price Index) was 0.47% in May.

This figure is lower than 1.06% in April this year and 0.83% in May last year. According to the results of the last month, IPCA accumulates a rate of 4.78% per year. For 12 months, the accumulated inflation is 11.73%.

The 12-month IPCA index remains above 10% for the ninth consecutive month – Photo: Marcello Casal JrAgência Brasil/ND

The index, accumulated over 12 months, remains above 10% for the ninth month in a row.

Greater influence

The largest impact on inflation this month came from transport, which rose by 1.34%, mainly due to an increase in airfare by 18.33%. Fuel prices changed 1%, lower than the 3.20% increase in the previous month.

The second biggest influence this month was healthcare and personal care with inflation of 1.01%. Pharmaceutical products, whose prices rose by 2.51% during this period, together with air tickets were the most significant positions in the IPCA rating in May.

Food inflation was 0.48%, well down from 2.06% in the previous month. Some goods fell in price, such as tomatoes (-23.72%), potatoes (-3.94%) and carrots (-24.07%). Despite this, some products rose, such as shelf-stable milk (4.65%) and onions (21.36%).

Clothing inflation was 2.11% and it was the spending group with the highest price increase in a month. Housing was the only group with deflation (falling prices) -1.70%.