Consumption in Brazilian homes fell by 3.47% in May compared to April. Compared to the same period in 2021, there was an increase of 0.39%. Year-to-date, there was an expansion of 2.02%. The data were released today (14), in São Paulo, by the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (Abras). The fall in inflation in May reflected in a lower variation in the prices of the food basket.
According to the institutional vice president of Abras, Marcio Milan, the expectation is that the reduction of ICMS (Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services) on fuels, which impacts freight, the fall in unemployment and the new resources that must be injected into the economy resulting from the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution – the so-called PEC of Benefits – contribute to consumption in homes.
“We are confident in market analysts signaling a lower level of inflation for the next month, which may reduce the price of the food basket”, said Milan.
Basket
According to data from Abras, the value of the basket of 35 consumer products (food, beverages, meats, cleaning products, hygiene and beauty items) was reflected in the fall in inflation in May. The change in May was 0.94%, the lowest increase since January. As a result, the average price of the national basket went from R$758.72 in April to R$765.82 in May. In the year, there was an increase of 9.32% and, in 12 months, the variation was 17.20%.
The biggest increases from January to May were beans (28.46%), long-life milk (28.04%), soy oil (22.57%), wheat flour (21%), roasted and ground coffee ( 14.63%), spaghetti semolina pasta (12.12%), margarine (8.94%), rice (2.59%) and sugar (0.61%).
On the other hand, beef cuts appear, which fell in May due to low demand: hindquarters (-0.84%) and forequarters (-0.07%). However, in the accumulated of the year the two items had high of 4.84% and 4.87%.
In the hygiene and beauty group, the products with the greatest positive change in prices were soap (12.64%), shampoo (6.31%), toothpaste (6.24%) and toilet paper (5.26%). . In the cleaning category, the biggest changes were caused by washing powder (10.62%), liquid dishwashing detergent (6.24%), disinfectant (4.78%) and bleach (4.66%).
Regions
The South Region presented the greatest variation in the average price of the basket, with an increase of 2.10%, changing from R$ 842.49 in April to R$ 860.15 in May. In 12 months, the variation is 21.22%, the highest among the five regions of the country.
The Southeast region had a decline of 0.10%. The average price of the basket dropped from R$748.05 in April to R$747.31 in May. In the last 12 months, the variation is 19%.
In the other regions, the changes in the 12 months were: Northeast (18.17%), Central-West (15.35%) and North (12.03%).
