São Paulo – The National Confederation of Industries (CNI) disclosed on Thursday (25) the National Consumer Expectation Index (Inec), which measures the level of optimism of Brazilians regarding the economy. The index dropped 1.9% in April, as against March, and was at 112.1 points. This is the lowest level since august 2011, according to the CNI. Regarding April last year, the index dropped 0.8%.
According to a press statement disclosed by the organisation, the drop is a consequence of the fear of inflation and the reduction of future income. In the first index, there was a 5.1% drop from March to April, and in the latter, 4.1%. There was also worsening in the evaluation of consumers regarding their financial situation and indebtedness, 3.1% in the former and 2.5% in the latter.
"The greater concern with inflation and with personal income affects future demand. That affects the return to economic growth,” said the CNI economist, Marcelo Azevedo, according to a press statement disclosed by the institution.
There was, however, expansion of 1.8% in work expectations and 0.4% in the expectation for purchase of higher value goods, figures considered positive.
The research was developed by the CNI in partnership with the Ibope, which heard 2,002 people in 141 cities, from April 11th to 15th.
*Translated by Mark Ament
