MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lula da Silva and top banker determined to stop inflation

Lula: “We will control inflation, but maintaining sustainable growth”

Brazilian President Lula da Silva and the country's top banker said fighting inflation remains a top priority, the latest warning against surging consumer prices. Speaking to an audience of investors at the Sao Paulo stock exchange, Lula da Silva said the government is determined to stop short-term inflation pressures from becoming permanent.

The Brazilian president described inflation as one of the country's most pressing issues because it affects poorer Brazilians the most, as it eats away people's buying power. "We will control inflation, but maintaining sustainable growth" Lula da Silva said. "We have ways to deal with that". He added that the surge in global oil prices has pushed up fertilizer costs and has been among the main causes for an increase in food price inflation. In the same anti inflation orthodox approach Brazil's Central Bank president Henrique Meirelles said during a television interview that "we are ready to do what it takes to keep the inflation in line with our target''. Wholesale prices are "significantly high" and may spread to retail prices, he said. The Brazilian Central Bank increased the benchmark Selic interest rate this month by half a percentage point for a second straight meeting with the purpose of cooling inflation which in May rose at an annual 5.8%, the fastest since January 2006. As a consequence of the strong stands the local currency Real was trading Tuesday at 1.60 US dollars, having appreciated 9.6% this year, the biggest advance among the 16 most-traded currencies against the dollar. Market analysts anticipate the Central Bank will raise the Selic rate to 12.75% in July, according to a June 13 bank survey. The rate is forecasted at 14.25% by year-end. Analysts expect consumer prices will increase 5.8% in 2008 and 4.63% next year. The Central Bank target inflation is 4.5%, plus or minus 2 percentage points. "The Selic rate is the country's main tool to keep prices under control" Meirelles said during an event sponsored by Brazil's Federation of Car Dealers in Sao Paulo. Last April the Central Bank raised the interest rate for the first time in three years. On June 4 the rate climbed to 12.25% from 11.75%.