*Brazil’s national statistics institute (Ibge) has released its consumer price index (IPCA) for May, putting monthly inflation at 0.46%, up from 0.38% in April and from the 0.23% inflation registered in May last year. Annual inflation stood at 3.93%. Of the nine categories of products and services measured for the IPCA, the categories with the highest monthly inflation rates were health & personal care (0.69%), housing (0.67%), and food & drink (0.62%). In a press release, the Ibge attributed inflation in health & personal care to factors such as rising costs of health insurance plans and of perfume and skincare products. In the housing category, the Ibge highlighted a monthly rise in electricity bills. Food prices in May were also impacted by the severe floods which have been devasting Rio Grande do Sul state, a major agricultural state.
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