Brasília – The Brazilian economy grew 2.79% last year. This may be seen by the unseasoned (adjusted for the period) Economic Activity Index of the Central Bank of Brazil (IBC-Br) disclosed on Thursday (16).
In December, the index reached 141.13 points, with growth of 0.57% over November, and recorded the third month running of expansion. In comparison with December 2010, the IBC-Br grew 1.71%.
Without seasonal adjustment, the figures show an 0.77% reduction in the IBC-Br in December, as against the previous month. In comparison with the same period in 2010, there was expansion of 1.47%. In the year, the growth is 2.72%.
IBC-Br is a way of evaluating and anticipating the evolution of Brazilian economic activity. The index incorporates information about the level of activity in the three sectors of the economy: industry, trade and services and agriculture.
The Central Bank considers observation of the index important for greater comprehension of economic activity and it contributes to the Monetary Policy Committee’s (Copom) decisions. The organisation is responsible for defining Brazil’s benchmark interest rate, the Selic.
*Translated by Mark Ament
