Inflation accelerates in February, driven by adjustment in school fees

The inflation preview for the month of February increased by 0.78% compared to the month of January, according to data from the Broad National Consumer Price Index 15 (IPCA-15), released this Tuesday morning (27) by IBGE. The increase was mainly driven by spending in the education segment, of 5.07%, as traditionally occurs in the month of back to school.

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, adjustments to regular courses were the main causes of the index in the month, such as secondary education (8.58%), elementary school (8.23%), pre-school (8.14% ) and daycare (5.91%). Technical courses (6.01%), higher education (3.74%) and postgraduate studies (2.81%) also registered increases.

Other sectors surveyed also registered an increase in the period, such as communication (1.67%), food and beverages (0.97%) and health and personal care (0.76%), among others. Only the clothing segment had a slight drop of -0.39%.

Since the beginning of the year, the IPCA-15 has accumulated an increase of 1.099%, and 4.49% in 12 months – above the 4.47% compared to the same previous period.

The index is a preview of the country’s official inflation and is calculated based on a consumption basket of families with income between one and 40 minimum wages in nine metropolitan regions, also including Brasília and Goiânia.

In the general overview of the year, the financial market estimates that inflation will close 2024 at 3.8% according to data from the Central Bank’s Focus Report, released earlier.