The prices of food that make up the basic food basket fell in 24 Brazilian capitals in November compared to the previous month. The survey was released this Tuesday (9), by the National Supply Company (Conab) and the Inter-Union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies (Dieese).
“Brazil is harvesting the largest agricultural harvest in our history this year, with consumers going to the supermarket with a cheaper product of excellent quality”, highlighted the president of Conab, Edegar Pretto, in a statement released by the government.
The National Food Basket Survey showed that the biggest reductions were in the cities of Macapá (-5.28%), Porto Alegre (-4.10%), Maceió (-3.51%), Natal (-3.40%) and Palmas (-3.28%). On the other hand, there were increases in Rio Branco (0.77%), Campo Grande (0.29%) and Belém (0.28%).
Last month, the lowest average values recorded were in Aracaju (R$ 538.10), Maceió (R$ 571.47), Natal (R$ 591.38), João Pessoa (R$ 597.66) and Salvador (R$ 598.19). On the other hand, the highest cost was recorded in São Paulo (R$ 842.26), followed by Florianópolis (R$ 800.68), Cuiabá (R$ 789.98), Porto Alegre (R$ 789.77) and Rio de Janeiro (R$ 783.96).
São Paulo, the most expensive, and Aracaju, the cheapest
In the city of São Paulo (SP), the percentage of the net minimum wage (59.91%) needed to buy a basic food basket is also higher. The monthly working time required to purchase a set of food is also longer in the capital of São Paulo (121 hours and 55 minutes).
Otherwise, in Aracaju (SE), the basic food basket is cheaper (38.32% of the minimum wage) and there is less working time required to purchase food (77 hours and 59 minutes).
Rice, tomato and sugar
The biggest negative price variations between October and November include products such as needle rice. Last month, this common food in Brazilian habits became, for example, 10.27% cheaper in Brasília.
Another product that was more affordable was tomatoes, in 26 capitals. One example of this is that the price of food decreased by 27.39% in Porto Alegre. In the researchers’ assessment, the greater supply was responsible for reducing the retail price.
The average values per kilo of sugar and whole milk were lower in 24 capitals. For sugar, the drop in retail was due to the reduction in prices on the international market, greater supply during the harvest period and lower demand.
In the case of milk, the excess supply in the field and the import of derivatives contributed to the reduction in retail prices. The falls ranged between -7.27%, in Porto Alegre, and -0.28%, in Rio Branco.
Cheaper coffee
Another product that became cheaper, this one in 20 cities analyzed, was powdered coffee. The reductions in São Luís (-5.09%), Campo Grande (-3.39%) and Belo Horizonte (-3.12%) stand out.
According to the government’s assessment, the good productivity of crops and the slow process of negotiating American tariffs, added to the high prices charged in supermarkets, were related to the decrease in prices.
