The Weekly Consumer Price Index (IPC-S) of August 31, 2018 varied 0.07% – 0.03 percentage points (p.p.) below the rate recorded in the last publication. With this result, the index accumulates a 3.25% increase in the year and 4.15% in the last 12 months.

Three of the eight expense categories that comprise the index recorded lower price variation rates compared to the previous period. The Housing group recorded the highest variation (0.49% to 0.25%). In this expense class, it is important to highlight the behavior of the household power bill item, whose rate went from 0.94% to -0.75%.

The following groups also showed decreased variation rates: Transport (-0.15% to -0.35%) and Communication (0.17% to -0.13%). In these expense classes, it is also important to highlight the behavior of the following items: gasoline (-0.53% to -1.31%) and mobile phone rate (-0.19% to -0.53%).

On the other hand, the following groups showed increased variation rates: Food (-0.09% to 0.06%), Education, Reading and Recreation (-0.17% to 0.15%), Health and Personal Care (0.29% to 0.39%), Miscellaneous Expenses (0.44% to 0.68%) and Clothing (-0.49% to -0.47%). In these expense classes, it is important to mention the following items: herbs and vegetables (-8.89% to 6.94%), airfare (-13.53% to 1.18%), medications in general (0.08% to 0.29%), cigarettes (1.44% to 2.10%) and dress and skirt (-2.28% to -1.44%).

The next calculation of the IPC-S, based on data collected until September 7, will be published on September 10. The complete study is available on the website.