Inflation accelerated in February and reached 1.31%. The highest value for the month in 22 years.
The increase in housing costs was the main highlight among all groups that make up the IPCA, the broad consumer price index.
The adjustments in the category reached 4.44% in February. In the previous month, prices had retreated 3.08%. The change responds to the jump in the value of domestic electricity. The tariffs rose 16.8% with the end of the Itaipu bonus, which had held prices so far.
The other two groups that pressured the index were: Education (4.7%) – with the annual adjustment of school monthly fees – and food (0.7%).
The February result (1.31%) represents a leap in the monthly IPCA variation. In January, the index had registered a much lower increase: 0.16%.
Inflation accumulated in the last 12 months reached 5.06%. Increasingly far from the center of the official goal, which is 3%.
Price climb has forced the Central Bank to increase interest rates to curb economic activity and control inflation. The monetary policy committee has already said it intends to climb Selic at another percentage point at the next board, scheduled for next week. The government, however, bets on the opposite direction, adopting initiatives that drive families consumption.
On Wednesday, President Lula signed the provisional measure of the worker’s credit. MP facilitates the hiring of payroll loans for celetist employees, who will have access to lower rates than those practiced today by banks.
The FGTS will function as warranty for operations. FEBRABAN’s estimate is that contracts disappear $ 120 billion over the next four years.
At the ceremony, Lula defended the incentive for consumption. And he made a public gesture to support the work of Finance Minister Fernando Haddad.
“Economy is not done with magic. We don’t make up. We know that what works today can go wrong tomorrow. I can tell you without fear of making mistakes: I’ve had many ministers on the farm. But you can be sure, if you collaborate we will finish the government with Haddad entering history as the best finance minister this country has ever had, ”said the president.
