Price survey of basic consumer items in the country’s capitals identified an increase in the cost of the basic basket in January this year in 13 of the 17 cities surveyed.
The largest increase was in Salvador (6.22%), followed by Belém (4.80%) and Fortaleza (3.96%). The four cities where there was a reduction in the global value of the items were Porto Alegre (-1.67%), Vitória (-1.62%), Campo Grande (-0.79%) and Florianópolis (-0.09%). The survey – conducted since 2005 – is from the Intersindical Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies (Dieese).
The most expensive basic basket was quoted in Sao Paulo, where the food that compose it cost R $ 851.82, 60% of the official minimum wage (R $ 1,518).
In January, according to the Dieese survey, the minimum wage required to maintain a family of four should have been $ 7,156.15.
Study released in December by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) indicates that the average income of the Brazilian worker was R $ 3,279.00 in October 2024, the most current data available.
Values
The comparison, according to the Dieese, is possible “based on the most expensive basket, which, in January, was that of São Paulo, and taking into account the constitutional determination that establishes that the minimum wage must be sufficient to supply the expenses of a Worker and his family with food, housing, health, education, clothing, hygiene, transportation, leisure and social security. “
In January 2024, it should have been R $ 6,723.41 or 4.76 times the current value. Inflation of the last 12 months, according to the National Consumer Price Index (IPCA), was 4.8%, close to the indicated increase.
The southern and southeastern cities are among the most expensive quoted. In Florianópolis, the average value of the basic basket was R $ 808.75, in Rio de Janeiro R $ 802.88, and, in Porto Alegre, R $ 770.63.
Cost
Curitiba, with R $ 743.69, victory with 735.31 and Belo Horizonte with R $ 717.51 complete the sector, but were exceeded by Campo Grande (R $ 764.24), Goiânia (R $ 756.92) and Brasilia (R $ 756.03). North and northeastern capitals surveyed have costs below half of the minimum wage. In Fortaleza the basic basket cost an average of R $ 700.44, in Belém R $ 697.81, in Natal R $ 634.11, in Salvador R $ 620.23, in João Pessoa R $ 618.64, in Recife R $ 598.72 and in Aracaju R $ 571.43.
Dieese analysis connects the increase in the basic basket to the behavior of three main items: coffee powder, which has risen in all cities in the last 12 months; The tomato, which increased in five cities, but decreased in 12 during this period, but had an increase above 40% in Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, due to the rains; and French bread, which has increased in 16 cities surveyed in the last 12 months, which is attributed to a “lower national wheat offer and greater import need, in this devalued exchange scenario”.
The readjustment could have been higher, but was contained by items such as potatoes, which decreased in all capitals last year, whole milk, which, despite the readjustment during the year, had a drop in 12 cities in December, and the Needle rice and black beans, which have fallen in price in recent months due to increased supply.
