Based on the information made available until the date of the present press release, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) annual rate was estimated at -0.7% in May 2020 (-0.2% in April). The core inflation index, which excludes energy and unprocessed food products components, was -0.4% (0.2 percentage points (p.p.) lower than in the previous month). The annual rate of change of the index for energy products is estimated to be -11.2%, a rate even lower than in April (-9.4%).
The estimated CPI monthly rate was -0.4% (in April, the final value was 0.3% and 0.1% in May 2019), while the CPI 12-month average rate was estimated at 0.1% (0.1 p.p. lower than in the previous month).
The estimate of the Portuguese Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) annual rate of change was -0.6% (-0.1% in April).
The April CPI final results will be released on June 12th, 2020.

Despite the circumstances determined by the pandemic COVID 19, Statistics Portugal will try to maintain the statistical production and release calendar, although some adjustments might occur associated with the impact of the pandemic in obtaining primary information. For this reason, Statistics Portugal asks for the best collaboration by firms, households and public entities in answering to Statistics Portugal‘s requests to obtain information, using Internet and telephone as alternative channels to face-to-face contacts. In fact, the quality of official statistics, particularly its ability to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, depends crucially on this collaboration that Statistics Portugal is grateful for in advance.