Brazil December Inflation Quickens More Than Forecast
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Brazil’s consumer prices in December rose more than economists forecast, increasing doubts that the central bank will be able to maintain interest rates at a record low this year.
Prices as measured by the IPCA index rose 0.79 percent in December, the national statistics agency said today in Rio de Janeiro. That was more than every estimate from 34 economists surveyed by Bloomberg, whose median forecast was for an increase of 0.74 percent. Inflation has exceeded estimates for the sixth straight month. Annual price increases quickened to 5.84 percent from 5.53 percent in November, compared with a forecast of 5.79 percent from 30 economists surveyed.