Brazil: Inflation inches up in February
Consumer prices rose 0.43% in February over the previous month, accelerating from January’s 0.32% increase. The result due partly to a large increase in education prices coinciding with the start of the new school year. The reading overshot market analysts expectations of a smaller 0.39% rise.
Inflation inched up to 3.9% in February from January’s 3.8%. Despite the rise, inflation is still moderate and below the Bank’s target of 4.25% for the end of 2019 thanks to an appreciation of the real, cuts in government-controlled prices and economic slack. Annual average inflation also edged up from January’s 3.7% to 3.8% in February.