The General Price Index – 10 (IGP-10) rose 1.40% in March, after a 0.40% increase in February. With this result, the index accrues a 1.54% high in the year and 7.99% in 12 months. The index had risen 0.45% in March 2018, reaching an accrued drop of 0.02% in 12 months.

The Broad Producer Price Index (IPA) rose from 0.40% in February to 1.93% in March. In the analysis based on processing stages, the prices of Final Goods rose 1.97% in March, on average, after rising 0.49% in February. The fresh foods subgroup was the main driver behind this trend, varying from 8.28% to 19.90%. The Final Goods (ex) category, which excludes the fresh foods and fuel for consumption subgroups, varied -0.06% in March, compared to 0.07% in the previous month.

The Intermediate Goods group varied from -0.14% in February to 0.54% in March. The manufacturing materials and components subgroup accounted for most of this trend, rising from -1.03% to -0.31%. The Intermediate Goods (ex) rate, not including the fuel and lubricants for production subgroup, varied -0.28% in March, compared to -0.67% in the previous month.

The Gross Raw Materials group rose 3.60% in March, after a 0.98% increase in February. The main drivers behind this trend were the following items: soy (beans) (-4.59% to 1.86%), poultry (-2.12% to 6.55%) and fresh milk (2.18% to 7.89%). On the downside, the most relevant variations occurred in sugar cane (1.81% to -0.10%), coffee (beans) (-0.55% to -2.84%) and rice (paddy) (0.00% to -0.58%).

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.48% in March, compared to 0.38% in February. Four out of the index’s eight expense categories recorded higher variations, particularly the Food group (0.66% to 1.05%). In this expense class, it is worth mentioning the behavior of the herbs and vegetables item, which recorded a rate of 8.95% in March, after dropping 0.48% in February.

The Transport (-0.01% to 0.44%), Clothing (-0.63% to 0.13%) and Health and Personal Care (0.31% to 0.47%) groups also recorded increasing variation rates. The main drivers behind such trend were: gasoline (-2.77% to -0.36%), clothes (-0.83% to 0.22%) and personal care and hygiene items (-0.35% to 0.66%).

On the other hand, the Education, Reading and Recreation (0.92% to -0.11%), Housing (0.43% to 0.35%), Miscellaneous Expenses (0.30% to -0.05%) and Communication (0.40% to -0.02%) groups recorded decreasing variation rates. The main driver behind this trend were formal courses (3.69% to 0.00%), monthly housekeeper (1.19% to 0.50%), notary office (2.59% to 0.16%) and landline phone and internet packages (1.75% to 0.00%).

The Civil Construction Index (INCC) rose 0.07% in March, compared to 0.41% in February. The three components of the INCC recorded the following variations: Materials and Equipment (0.42% to 0.03%), Services (1.35% to 0.49%) and Manpower (0.23% to 0.02%).