In September 2018, the monthly survey of food prices in the São Paulo retail market showed an increase of 0.58% in family food expenses compared to August in the state capital, reports the Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA) ), research institution of the Department of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo.
September inflation, as measured by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) was 0.48%. “If we compare this value with the variation of the market basket calculated by the IEA, it is concluded that, on average, food prices in the state capital have risen a little above inflation,” says Vagner Azarias Martins, an IEA researcher responsible for analyze.
Among the products of animal origin, meat varied positively by 2.44%, mainly due to the increase in beef prices, as well as the significant increase of 5.13% in chicken meat. According to the beef sector, the beef industry tends to continue with positive profit margins, still benefited by external demand and also by higher average prices in Brazil. In addition, with the closeness of the holiday season, consumption in the domestic market should improve. On the other hand, in the poultry sector the scenario is of margins pressured by the fall in shipments and high costs, either because of the freight table or the values of the grains used in the ration.
In milk and dairy products, there was a 3.03% reduction in average prices, especially the long-lived milk, which dropped 6.53%. The devaluation of the product is attributed to the retraction in consumption and the high stocks in the wholesale of São Paulo. This scenario is expected to continue next month.
In the products of plant origin, there was a significant increase in the fruit subgroup, especially Tahiti lemon (+ 31.29%), driven by the low supply, motivated by the new flowering plants that have not yet reached the caliber and coloration demanded by the sector in natura On the other hand, fruits of significant consumption in families from São Paulo such as banana and oranges begin harvesting period, which should force a reduction in the rate of this grouping in the coming months.
In the vegetables, there was reduction of expenditure by 0.27%. The onion, with falling prices of 6.01%, was the positive highlight for the consumer, due to the good supply of the product. Of the commodities, two of them caught the attention of analysts: rice and French bread. The first continues with price pressure due to lower supply, and the monthly variation was almost 5%, impacting the families of São Paulo, since this product is one of the most important in the market basket. In relation to French bread, derived from wheat flour, the survey carried out in recent months shows instability in prices due to the final production results in the year and the variability of the dollar quotation.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.