The price of all basic foods fell in September, compared to August, in 22 Brazilian capitals and increased by five, according to the National Food Basket Survey, released this Wednesday (8) by the Inter-Union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies (Dieese) and the National Supply Company (Conab). Since July 2025, the survey covers all 27 capitals in the country. Previously, the survey was only carried out in 17. 
The main price drops for the basket in September occurred in Fortaleza (-6.31%), Palmas (-5.91%), Rio Branco (-3.16%), São Luís (-3.15%) and Teresina (-2.63%). The capitals with an increase in value were Campo Grande (1.55%), Curitiba (0.38%), Vitória (0.21%), Porto Alegre (0.04%), and Macapá (0.03%).
São Paulo was the capital in which the set of basic foods presented the highest price (R$ 842.26), followed by Porto Alegre (R$ 811.44), Florianópolis (R$ 811.07) and Rio de Janeiro (R$ 799.22).
In cities in the North and Northeast, where the composition of the basket is different, the lowest values were recorded: Aracaju (R$ 552.65), Maceió (R$ 593.17), Salvador (R$ 601.74) and Natal (R$ 610.27).
The comparison of the values of the September 2025 basket with the same month of 2024 shows that, in the 17 capitals where the research was carried out during this period, there was an increase in prices in all of them, with variations between 3.87%, in Belém, and 15.06%, in Recife.
In the year to date, i.e. From January to September 2025, in the 17 capitals surveyed, 12 increased and five decreased. The biggest increases occurred in Recife (4.69%), Porto Alegre (3.54%) and Salvador (3.06%). The capitals with the main negative changes were Brasília (-3.15%) and Goiânia (-3%).
Based on the most expensive basket, which in September was São Paulo, Dieese estimated that the value of the minimum wage necessary for a family to live in the ninth month of the year in Brazil should have been R$7,075.83 or 4.66 times the current minimum of R$1,518. Dieese takes into account the constitutional determination that the minimum wage should be sufficient to cover the expenses of a family of four with food, housing, health, education, clothing, hygiene, transport, leisure and social security.
In September 2024, the minimum wage should have been R$6,657.55 or 4.71 times the value in force at the time, which was R$1,412.
Products
The price of tomatoes in September, compared to August, decreased in 26 capitals of the 27 surveyed, with drops ranging from 47.61%, in Palmas, and 3.32%, in Campo Grande. The increase occurred in Macapá (4.41%).
The average price of needle rice decreased in 25 of the 27 capitals surveyed, with emphasis on Natal (-6.45%), Brasília (-5.33%) and João Pessoa (-5.05%). The increase was recorded in Vitória (1.29%). In Palmas, the average price did not vary.
Coffee and Beef
In September, the average value per kilo of prime beef increased in 16 capitals and decreased in 11. The biggest increases occurred in Vitória (4.57%), Aracaju (2.32%) and Belém (1.59%). The most important negative changes were recorded in Macapá (-2.41%), Natal (-1.13%) and São Luís (-1.03%).
“The limited supply, mainly due to the drought, explains the rise in prices. At the same time, low demand put pressure on prices down in some cities”, highlighted Dieese.
The price of ground coffee decreased in 14 capitals and increased in 13. The most significant drops were recorded in Rio de Janeiro (-2.92%) and Natal (-2.48%). The biggest increases occurred in São Luís (5.10%) and Campo Grande (4.32%).
“The international price of coffee increased, driven by the rise in the market [norte] American and limited supply in the world, due to some production losses. But, internally, the high prices charged in supermarkets inhibited demand, reducing average prices in some capitals”, stated Dieese.
