1. Brazil is among the countries best positioned for energy transition

Brazil is one of the countries that is best positioned to undergo an energy transition, better even than developing nations. This analysis comes from a report published by the World Economic Forum on Wednesday (19). Brazil ranked 12th, ahead of the United Kingdom (13th), China (17th), and the United States (19th) – the last two being the world’s largest polluters.

Brazil’s strong performance in this ranking is driven by the extensive use of hydroelectric power and biofuels, alongside significant governing advancements. The Energy Transition Index (ETI) assesses 120 countries, assigning them points across 46 different criteria, which results in a final score from zero to 100.

Folha de S. Paulo: Brasil está entre países mais bem posicionados para transição energética, diz relatório

2. Surge in the dollar expected to accelerate inflation in Brazil

Experts believe that the rise in dollar prices compared to the Brazilian real will continue to put pressure on the inflation rate in Brazil over the coming months. Many of the products consumed in the country today are imported, which means their prices are affected by the fluctuations in the American currency. In 2024, the increase has already exceeded 10% compared to the real. Last week, 1 dollar was equivalent to over R$ 5.40.

As a result of the price of the dollar, prices of imported products such as technology, healthcare goods, fuels, and food like corn and wheat also rose. These items are essential for Brazilians. In addition to the impact of the dollar, issues with Brazilian harvests have also driven food prices up. In May, the Extended Consumer Price Index (IPCA), announced by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), rose by 0.46%, with the group of food and beverages being the main driver of price increases.

G1: Disparada do dólar deve acelerar a inflação no Brasil; veja como se proteger

3. Floods in Rio Grande do Sul impact national grain harvest forecast

The National Supply Company (CONAB) reduced its projection for the national grain harvest due to weather phenomena. This is the first assessment the company has undertaken since the peak of floods in Rio Grande do Sul. The flooding of crops and the impact of El Niño in other states have affected the production of grains in the country.

According to CONAB, the current projection is that Brazil will produce nearly 300 million tons of grains in 2024, a 7% reduction in comparison to the previous harvest. Soybean production is expected to decrease by almost 5%, and corn production is expected to be 14% lower. Even though the production in 2024 is expected to be higher than in 2023, the pace of harvesting has been declining due to Rio Grande do Sul being responsible for 70% of national grain production.

G1/JN: Enchente no Rio Grande do Sul impacta a previsão da colheita nacional de grãos

4. 69% of Brazilians are worried about high interest rates due to increased cost of living

The Ipsos “Cost of Living Monitor” survey revealed that 69% of Brazilians are worried about the high cost of living caused by high interest rates. The study encompassed 32 countries and nearly 25,000 respondents. Currently, the Selic rate is at 10.5%, after a reduction of 0.25 percentage points in May, which shows the monetary policy adjustment is slowing down.

According to the study, 32% of respondents in Brazil say they face financial difficulties. People’s perceptions on taxes are also cause for concern: the study indicates that 54% of Brazilians believe interest rates will increase in the second half of the year, a number that is slightly higher than the global average of 53%.

CNN: Juros altos preocupam 69% dos brasileiros com aumento do custo de vida, diz pesquisa

5. Almost 6 million cases of dengue and 4,000 deaths in Brazil in 2024

On Tuesday (18) the Ministry of Health’s monitoring panel announced that Brazil had reached a total of 5,968,224 probable cases of dengue fever and 3,910 deaths caused by the disease in 2024. There are currently another 2,970 deaths under investigation. The incidence of dengue fever in Brazil is currently 2,939 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Most people infected by the disease are young adults, aged 20 to 29 years, followed by 30 to 39 years-old, 40 to 49, and 50 to 59. The lowest incidence rates are among infants younger than one year old, aged 80 years or older and children aged one to four years.

Band: Brasil se aproxima de 6 milhões de casos e 4 mil mortes por dengue em 2024