São Paulo’s Cost of Living Index Rises 1.88 Percent in Eight Months

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The Cost of Living Index in the city of São Paulo rose 0.07 percent in August. The inflation index measured by the Intersindical Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies (DIEESE) registered an increase of 1.88 percent in the first eight months of 2019 and 3.15 percent in 12 months.

Inflation hit families with an average income of up to R$377.49 (US$94) the hardest, up 0.13 percent in August and 3.59 percent in 12 months.

The business sector with the highest increase in August was health care (0.68 percent). The increase was driven by readjustments in medical plans (0.97 percent).

Then came housing, with an increase of 0.21 percent, influenced mainly by the change in the tariff system of electricity rates, raising the prices of electricity bills by 0.96 percent.

On the other hand, there was a significant drop of 0.40 percent in transportation, driven by a retraction of 1.45 percent in gasoline prices.