Average value of the basic food basket falls in 7 of the 8 capitals surveyed in March
The capitals that presented the greatest drop in value were Fortaleza (-4%) and Belo Horizonte (-2%). The only increase registered in the month was in Rio de Janeiro, where the price increased by 1.6%.
The most expensive basket was also in Rio de Janeiro, with an average cost of R$889.69, followed by São Paulo (R$854.61) and Brasília (R$744.29). On the other hand, Belo Horizonte (R$ 612.72) and Manaus (R$ 683.28) recorded the lowest values.
According to economist César Bergo, the price of the basic food basket in Belo Horizonte is 30% cheaper compared to the value in Rio de Janeiro. For him, this demonstrates that demand in Rio de Janeiro is heated. “Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have high costs, well above the national average. The tendency is for it to settle down”, he points out.
According to the survey, of the 18 products in the basic basket, only eggs showed a high price in all capitals. The increase in the cost of producing and feeding the birds resulted in a decrease in egg supply, as well as the increase in demand caused by Lent.
For Bergo, the drop in the price of the basic food basket will also affect trade, as consumers must select the products they intend to buy. “In the case, for example, of eggs that have been going up a lot in recent months, this impacts the price. So the consumer should pay attention and opt for those products that are at a better price ”, he explains.
He also informs that prices follow the inflation perspective, which fell in March. “The trend for the coming months is for the basic basket to follow this downward movement and become cheaper, especially in those cities where there is a very high price for the basic basket”, he says.
Soybean oil was the category that showed the most price reduction in almost all capitals. Fruits, coffee powder and grains, beef, cornmeal and corn flour also registered a drop.
“There are many products that have significantly improved the consumer price. You can observe that the pressure due to the production chain, between harvests, this is all being resolved gradually”, points out the economist.
Impacts for the population
The president of the Central Única das Favelas do Distrito Federal (Cufa-DF), Bruno Kesseler, explains that the institution started donating basic food baskets at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. According to him, a little later, there was a significant increase in the price of the basket, which directly impacted donations.
“This decrease makes a big difference for us, not least because we donate large numbers of basic food baskets. We know that the pandemic still left losses for some families, who lost sources of income and consequently, purchasing power. So, it will certainly have a direct impact on the budget of these families as well”, says Kesseler.
By Brasil 61
