Brasília – The Brazilian economy started the year with growth. In January, the Economic Activity Index of the Central Bank (IBC-Br) adjusted for the period (unseasoned), disclosed on Friday (15) by the institution, presented expansion of 1.29% in comparison with December 2012. This is the greatest percentage in this kind of comparison since January 2004, when the expansion over December 2003 reached 1.99%.
According to the revised figures, in December as against November last year, there was 0.45% reduction in the IBC-Br.
In the comparison between January this year and the same month of 2012, there was growth of 3.84%, according to unadjusted figures for the period, considered the most adequate in this kind of comparison. In the 12 months ending in January, economic activity grew 0.84% (unadjusted).
IBC-Br is a form of evaluating and anticipating the evolution of Brazil’s economic activity. The growth of the IBC-Br is considered important by the Central Bank for there to be greater comprehension of economic activity. This also contributes to the decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee (Copom), responsible for defining the benchmark interest rate, currently at 7.25% a year.
*Translated by Mark Ament
