São Paulo – The Brazilian price index for commodities (internationally traded staple goods) was down 1.24% in December from November. In the whole of 2014, the Brazil Commodities Index (IC-Br), measured monthly by the Brazilian Central Bank, was up 5.47%.
The IC-Br is calculated based on the variation, in reais (Brazilian currency), of commodities’ prices negotiated abroad. To do so, the Central Bank keeps track of the products that are relevant to consumer price dynamics in Brazil.
Last month, the energy sector (petroleum, natural gas and coal) was one of the main reasons for the lowering of prices, which dropped 13%. The score for metals (aluminium, iron ore, copper, tin, zinc, lead and nickel) was also down, by 1.25%. Agricultural commodities (beef, cotton, soy oil, wheat, sugar, maize, coffee, rice and pork) were up 0.99%.
The Commodity Research Bureau Index (CRB) was up 1.4% in November and up 9.26% in the 12 months leading up to December 2014.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
