The General Price Index – Market (IGP-M) varied by 0.45% in May, a percentage lower than that recorded in April, when the rate was 0.92%. With this result, the cumulative IGP-M increased by 3.56% during the year and 7.64% in the last 12 months. In May 2018, the index had risen by 1.38% in the month and accumulated a 4.26% increase in 12 months.

The Broad Producer Price Index (IPA) varied by 0.54% in May, after a 1.07% increase in April. In the analysis by processing stages, the rate of the Final Goods group varied by 0.01% in May, compared to 1.25% in the previous month. The main contribution to this result came from the Fresh Foods subgroup, whose variation rate went from 0.97% to -7.77% over the same period. The Final Goods (ex) index, which excludes the Fresh Foods and Fuels for Consumption subgroups, rose by 0.48% in May, compared to a 0.84% variation in the previous month.

The variation rate of the Intermediate Goods went from 0.47% in April to 0.95% in May. This movement was due mainly to the Fuels and Lubricants for Production subgroup, whose percentage went from 0.95% to 4.41%. The Intermediate Goods (ex) Index, obtained after excluding the Fuels and Lubricants for Production subgroup, increased by 0.34% in May, compared an increase of 0.39% in April.

The Gross Raw Materials index slowed down from 1.57% in April to 0.67% in May. The following items contributed to the group’s rate decrease: soybeans (grain) (-0.34% to -3.42%), orange (-4.33% to -15.31%), and cassava (0.67% to -6.07%). In the opposite direction, sugarcane (1.31% to 4.27%), iron ore (5.54% to 6.38%) and rice (husk) (-0.33% to 6.70%) stand out.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) varied by 0.35% in May, after a 0.69% increase in April. Six of the eight component expenditure classes of the index reported a decrease in their variation rates. The main contribution came from the Food group (0.88% to -0.12%). In this expenditure class, it is worth noting the behavior of the item vegetables and legumes, whose rate went from 9.41% to -0.13%.

The Clothing (1.11% to 0.25%), Education, Reading and Recreation (0.31% to -0.06%), Transportation (1.06% to 0.98%), Housing (0.41% to 0.37%) and Communication (0.10% to -0.12%) also reported a decrease in their variation rates. The main influences for the deceleration of the groups came from the following items: clothing (1.32% to 0.29%), airfare (-0.51% to -10.28%), urban bus fare (0.57% to -0.14%) and landline telephone and Internet packs (0.43% to -0.56%).

In contrast, the groups Health and Personal Care (0.69% to 0.81%) and Miscellaneous Expenses (0.48% to 0.50%) showed an increase in their variation rates. In these expenditure classes, the main increases were observed in the items medicines in general (1.33% to 2.11%) and lottery tickets (21.51% to 22.69%).

The Civil Construction Index (INCC) varied by 0.09% in May, compared to 0.49% in the previous month. The three component groups of the INCC reported the following variations in the period from April to May: Materials and Equipment (0.71% to 0.20%), Services (0.53% to 0.09%), and Workforce (0.33% to 0.01%).

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