Inflation at 0.83% in May, sharpest hike for the month in 25 years

Brazil’s official inflation, as measured by the National Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA), was reported at 0.83 percent in May this year. The rate is above April’s 0.31 percent and the highest for the month of May since 1996 (1.22%), as per data released today (Jun. 9) by the government’s statistics agency IBGE.

The IPCA is up 3.22 percent year-to-date and 8.06 percent month-on-month.

The nine groups of products and services surveyed showed inflation in May, chiefly housing (1.78%) and transport (1.15%). The most decisive items within these groups were electric energy (5.37%) and gasoline (2.87%).

Other groups with major inflation rates were health and personal care (0.76%), food and drinks (0.44%) and housing articles (1.25%). The other groups changed between 0.06 percent (education) and 0.92 percent (clothing).