Inflation of water and soft drinks in SP is greater than the average of the country

Amid the crisis in water supply, the price of everyday drinks such as mineral water and soft drinks, rose this year in greater São Paulo more than in other metropolitan areas of the country.
The high was 10.72 percent in the accumulated from January to September, according to the latest IPCA (Extended consumer price index), the official gauge of inflation. This variation is greater than the average increase of 6.24% increase on the same period in the metropolitan regions.
This detachment between the rising price in São Paulo and the average of the country already was bigger this year than in 2013, but got stronger from August. Along to 2013, the variations in prices of that group in Sao Paulo followed the trends of the national average.
The sector still does not assign the increase to the water crisis, however. According to the President of Abinam (Associação Brasileira da Indústria Mineral water), Carlos Alberto Lancia, the problem is the cost of production. "We had an increase of 8% to 10% influenced by the cost of labour – since the category was bargaining in September – and for the costs of production and electric power."
At least 67 municipalities of São Paulo and Minas Gerais have endured disruption of water supply in recent weeks, according to a report published by the leaf, this Tuesday (21/10).
Last weekend, some stores were running out gallons of mineral water of 5 litres.
"It may be that the stores don't have enough stock, but it wasn't problem of shortages," says Lancia. That would only have occurred in places that suffer for several months with the drought, such as Itu.
Extra networks and Sugar Loaf (Pão de Açúcar) deny the lack of products and reporting that there was a 37% increase in sales of bottled water in the first half of October as compared to the same period in 2013. According to the group, the larger packages (5, 6 or 10 liters) and promotional packages are the most sought after.
Walmart already recorded a 50% expansion in sales of bottled water in the first ten months of the year compared to the same period in 2013.
According to Lancia, however, there is no risk of missing mineral water to drink, even with the water crisis. "The supply of mineral water is three times greater than the consumption. If the water is to be used only for consumption, there is that risk, "he said.
The industry predicts increase of up to 30% on sales of mineral water this year. Last year, the growth was 15%.