RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A Datafolha survey published on Monday (28) shows that 75% of the Brazilian population blames the government of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) for high inflation.
On the other hand, about 22% of respondents said they did not believe it was responsible, while 3% could not answer.
The poll, conducted on March 22 and 23, involved 2,500 people from 181 cities. The margin of error is two percentage points higher or lower.
Comparing the March poll with the one the institute conducted last September, the number of those who blame the government has declined.
Those who believe inflation is the government’s responsibility fell from 41% to 36%. Those who believe the government bears little responsibility rose from 34% to 39%. Those who believe the government bears no responsibility declined from 23% to 21%.
For 41% of those surveyed in September, the government bears a great deal of responsibility for inflation. Another 34% believe management bears some responsibility. Another 23% said the government could not be held responsible.
See voters’ assessment of inflation responsibility before running for office:
- 87% of Ciro Gomes (PDT) voters believe the government bears responsibility, with 50% believing the government bears a great deal of responsibility for inflation;
- 82% of Sergio Moro’s (Podemos) voters think that the government is responsible, with 42% thinking that he is very responsible
- 80% of André Janones (Avante) voters think the government is responsible, and half think the government is somewhat accountable.
- 75% of President Jair Bolsonaro’s (PL) voters also think the government is responsible for the high;
- 72% of evangelicals, who make up the bulk of the president’s electorate, also believe the government is to blame for inflation; and
- 75% of Midwesterners and 79% of Southerners believe the government is to blame.
HIGHEST INCREASE IN MARCH
The broad National Consumer Price Index 15 (IPCA-15), the so-called pre-inflation index, was 0.95% in March, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
This is the highest deviation for this month since 2015 (1.24%). Over the past 12 months, inflation reached 10.79%, up from 10.76% in the previous period.
In comparison, the annual inflation rate in the US accelerated to 7.9% in February of 2022, the highest since January 1982.