The General Market Price Index (IGP-M) rose 0.20% in the first ten-day period of February, compared to 0.03% in January.

The Broad Producer Price Index (IPA) rose 0.22% in the first ten-day period of February. The index had dropped 0.13% in the same period in January. In the analysis based on processing stages, prices of Finished Goods varied 0.84% in February, on average, compared to 0.65% in January. The fresh foods subgroup was the main driver behind this trend, varying from 4.71% to 6.12%. Intermediate Goods varied -0.09% in the first ten-day period of February, compared to -0.83% in the previous month. The main factor behind such variation was the fuels and lubricants for production subgroup, varying from -2.34% to 1.93%.

Gross Raw Materials varied -0.14% in the first ten-day period of February, after dropping 0.20% last month. The following items contributed to the slight improvement in the group’s rate: fresh milk (-4.52% to -1.56%), coffee (beans) (-4.53% to 0.67%) and sugarcane (0.34% to 1.28%). Highlights in the opposite direction were iron ore (1.88% to 0.52%), cattle (0.83% to -0.74%) and soy (beans) (-1.72% to -2.24%).

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) varied 0.14% in the first ten-day period of February, compared to 0.38% in the previous month. Four of the eight expense categories that comprise the index recorded lower price variations, particularly the Food group (0.71% to 0.12%). The herbs and vegetables item stood out in this expense category, dropping from 5.54% to -5.45%.

The Clothing (1.46% to -0.22%), Health and Personal Care (0.53% to 0.06%) and Housing (0.33% to 0.16%) groups also recorded decreasing variation rates. The main drivers in these expense classes were clothing (1.63% to -0.69%), hygiene and personal care items (1.47% to -1.42%), and residential water and sewage tariff (1.93% to 0.00%).

On the other hand, the Education, Reading and Recreation (0.20% to 0.95%), Transportation (-0.19% to -0.11%), Communication (-0.02% to 0.09%), and Miscellaneous Expenses (0.06% to 0.13%) groups recorded increasing variation rates. The following items stand out in these expense categories: formal courses (0.00% to 2.03%), city bus fare (-0.39% to 2.24%), landline phone and internet packages (0.00% to 0.31%), and notary office (-0.03% to 2.64%).

The Civil Construction Index (INCC) rose 0.25% in the first ten-day period of February, just under the 0.27% rate recorded in the previous month. The index for Materials, Equipment and Services rose 0.48% in February, compared to 0.18% last month. The main driver behind this trend was the population transportation equipment item, which rose from 0.02% to 2.04%. The Manpower cost index varied 0.05% in the first ten-day period of February. The index had risen 0.34% in the previous month.

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