The average price of a liter of gasoline in Brazil rose 0.18% this week, from R$6,596 to R$6,608, according to a survey released by the ANP (National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels) this Friday (14). It was the first fuel increase, after eight consecutive drops at the pumps. The ANP survey is carried out at gas stations across the country.
The price of diesel oil, in turn, increased by 1.46%, from R$5,344 to R$5,422. Ethanol fell by 0.09%, from R$5.051 to R$5.046.
The rise in fuel prices in the pandemic became a concern for Jair Bolsonaro (PL). In 2021, the increase in items such as gasoline pressured inflation in Brazil, causing reflections on the president’s popularity.
Last year, the IPCA (Broad Consumer Price Index) accumulated a variation of 10.06%. It was the biggest increase since 2015.
According to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), the rise in the IPCA was driven by the transport group, which, in turn, reflected the cost of fuel.
Based on the results of the inflation indicator, gasoline soared 47.49% in 2021. It was the main individual impact on the IPCA. Ethanol, in turn, had a jump of 62.23%.
On different occasions, Bolsonaro has criticized Petrobras’ pricing policy, which takes into account oil prices on the international market and the variation of the dollar to define the level of fuel in refineries.
On Tuesday (11), the state-owned company announced increases in diesel, of 8%, and in gasoline, of 4.85%. The adjustment in prices for distributors came into effect on Wednesday (12).
“After 77 days without increases, starting tomorrow Petrobras will make adjustments to its gasoline and diesel sales prices for distributors,” the company said in a statement at the time.
The surge in diesel fuel in the pandemic spreads a series of reflexes in different sectors of the Brazilian economy, as it makes the transport of cargo and passengers more expensive.
In 2021, the situation generated a wave of criticism from truck drivers to the federal government and Petrobras. Part of the category even organized strikes last year, but the strikes did not take shape.
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