Monthly activity index shows “soft” growth in December

The Brazilian government's economic activity index fell in December from the previous month, confirming a slowdown in the economy.

The index, known as the IBC-Br, showed economic activity increasing, in seasonally adjusted terms, by 0.57% in December against November, the Central Bank said Thursday.
   
By comparison, the November index showed a 1.15% rise in economic activity from October.
   
For the 12 months to December, the IBC-Br showed economic activity rising 2.79% against the previous 12-month period. That also represented a deceleration from November, when the comparable 12-month figure was 3.04%.
   
In comments Thursday, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said final IBGE figures for 2011 GDP growth should weight in “at more or less 3.0%." He added that 2012 growth “was already showing some acceleration” and predicted 2012 GDP expansion of 4.5%.