Consumption in Brazilian Homes, measured by the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (Abras), ended 2022 with an increase of 3.89%% compared to the previous year. In the last quarter, the indicator remained at a level above 3%, with accumulated increases in October (3.02%), November (3.52%), December (3.89%). In December, there was an increase of 15.19% compared to November. Compared to December 2021, the increase is 6.23%.
The result includes store formats: wholesale, conventional supermarket, neighborhood store, hypermarket, minimarket and e-commerce. All indicators are deflated by the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA), measured by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
“The measures to stimulate the economy, adopted by the federal government, sustained consumption in Brazilian homes throughout 2022. In the macroeconomic scenario, the deflation in the price of basic foodstuffs, the payment of the social benefits package, the increase in formal employment gave impetus to to consumption even more expressively in the last quarter”, says Abras.
According to the entity, the result exceeded the estimated projections between 3% and 3.30%. These estimates were revised in August after the release of a benefit package of around R$42 billion by the federal government for the Brasil, Gás, Caminhoneiro and Taxista aid programs. Analysts at the entity calculated, at the time, that around 50% of the amount would be used to buy food in supermarkets.
“The predictability in receipt of aid and the increase in the number of beneficiaries throughout the year were decisive in boosting the consumption of foodstuffs, especially for families with lower purchasing power due to the high inflation that impacted the food basket”, said the deputy -President of Abras, Marcio Milan.
According to data from the association, the value of the basket of 35 products of general consumption (food, beverages, meat, cleaning products, hygiene and beauty items) ended the year at a high of 7.69%. In the cut of the basic basket with 12 foods, there was an increase of 0.39% in December compared to November and the average price was R$ 317.56. The main falls were driven by long-life milk (-3.83%), wheat flour (-1.76%), meat (-0.71%), cheese (-0.39), ground coffee (-0. .31%).
Among the foods that most pressured the price of the food basket in the year, the highlights are potatoes (+56.89), onion (+51.10%), mozzarella cheese (+48.05%), cassava flour (+43 .34%), soda (+35.66%), wheat flour (+33.98).
On the other hand, beef registered deflation in the accumulated result for the year and ended the period down 4.77% for front cuts and 3.96% for hindquarters. Other negative variations were registered in the cookie cream cracker (-8.03%), long life milk (-4.83%), refined sugar (-4.55%), soybean oil (-4.41%).
In the hygiene and beauty category, the products with the greatest variation in prices were: soap (+27.15%), toilet paper (+19.07%), toothpaste (+15.06%), shampoo (+14. 72). In the cleaning basket, the biggest variations were driven by soap powder (+28.93%), liquid dish detergent (+18.10%) and disinfectant (+13.32%).
In the analysis by area, the smallest variation in the accumulated result for the year was registered in the Northeast Region (+6.53%), followed by the North (+8.25%), South (+9.12%), Midwest (+9 .48%), Southeast (12.56%). As for the average price, the South Region registered in December the most expensive basket in the country (R$ 843.36), followed by the North (R$ 832.62), Southeast (R$ 760.26), Midwest (R$ $703.47) and Northeast (R$684.51).
Projections for 2023
According to Milan, the entity’s analyzes indicate growth of 2.5% in household consumption, even with the commitment of income to debt payments and a significant portion committed to the traditional expenses at the beginning of the year.
“On the other hand, the readjustment of the minimum wage by a percentage above inflation, the maintenance of the Bolsa Família payment at R$ 600 and the payment [previsto a partir de março] of R$ 150 per child up to 6 years old for families enrolled in income transfer programs must bring resources that are destined to the composition of the household supply basket”, highlighted the vice-president.
