Consumer prices in Brazil rose 0.44% month-over-month in the first half of March 2026, above the 0.29% forecast but easing from February's 0.84%. All nine product and service groups posted gains. Food and beverages led at 0.88%, followed by personal expenses at 0.82%. Housing rose 0.24% and transportation 0.21%, while other groups ranged from 0.03% (communications) to 0.47% (clothing). Meanwhile, fuel prices fell 0.03% overall, driven by declines in vehicle gas (-2.27%), ethanol (-0.61%), and gasoline (-0.08%), whereas diesel increased by 3.77%. The government of Brazil has cut taxes and introduced subsidies for diesel, and Petrobras currently has wholesale diesel prices below international parity. By region, Recife (0.82%) and Bel