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Research shows the impact of inflation on Brazilians' diets, with cuts in items such as meat, milk, fruits and vegetables, especially among low-income families
Rising prices have changed the daily lives of millions of Brazilians. Recent data from the Datafolha Institute shows a worrying scenario: 58% of the population has reduced their purchases of basic foods due to inflation. The situation is even more critical among the poorest, where this number reaches 67%. The impact directly affects Brazilians' plates and also forces changes in various consumption habits.
Food affected by inflation
Inflation has hit the most essential foods hard. According to the survey, 58% of respondents said they are buying fewer basic items.
Among the Brazilians For lower-income families, this percentage rises to 67%. Trying to keep their budget within what is possible has led many families to cut even what is necessary.
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The study also shows that a quarter of the Brazilian population has less food than they need. Meanwhile, 60% say they have enough food, and 13% say they have more than they need. The difference between these groups highlights the inequality in access to food.
Changing habits
The survey revealed that the effects of inflation are not limited to food. The way Brazilians consume is changing in several areas. The survey shows that 61% of the population no longer goes out to eat as often. Visits to bars and restaurants have become rarer.
Another important fact is the change of brands. Half of Brazilians have started to opt for cheaper versions of everyday products, such as coffee. The cost-cutting has also reached basic services: 50% have reduced their consumption of water, electricity and gas.
Beverage consumption also fell, with 49% of respondents saying they had started buying less. Even medicines were among the items affected, with 36% of Brazilians reporting a reduction in purchases. These choices show the burden that inflation has placed on family budgets.
Opinion about the government
Datafolha also investigated how the population perceives the government's responsibility for the current economic situation. For 54% of Brazilians, the Lula government bears “a lot of responsibility” for the rise in food prices.
29% believe that the government is “partly” to blame, and 14% say that the Planalto has no responsibility.
This data reflects the dissatisfaction of a large part of the population with the economic scenario. Although the causes of inflation are varied, the survey shows that many Brazilians associate the problem with federal management.
Research profile
The Datafolha survey was conducted between April 1st and 3rd, 2025. In total, 3.054 people were interviewed in 172 municipalities across all regions of Brazil. The margin of error is 2 percentage points, either way.
The institute had already carried out a similar survey in March 2023. The new data show that inflationary pressure on Brazilian households persists, even two years after the last study.
Impacts of inflation: Forced adaptation
The reality portrayed by the research shows a country in forced adaptation. Cuts in leisure activities, brand substitutions, and a reduction in the consumption of essential items have become common strategies. Brazilians are trying to adapt as best they can to a scenario of high prices.
More than just one-off adjustments, these changes reveal a routine transformed by necessity. Consumption is no longer a choice but a matter of survival.
Food insecurity alert
The finding that 25% of the population has less food than necessary is one of the most worrying data from the research.
This means that one in four Brazilians is living with severe restrictions on access to food. This data shows that inflation is impacting not only people's pockets, but also the population's nutrition.
Food insecurity has become a reality for millions of families. In many homes, daily decisions revolve around how to make their little money last until the end of the month.
Reflections of the crisis
Brazil is going through a period of economic challenges. Inflation, especially in the food sector, has been changing behaviors, demanding sacrifices and generating frustration. Even essential services, such as energy and medicine, have been targeted for cuts.
The Datafolha survey reveals this reality. It shows that the population is facing real and daily hardship. The fact that half of those interviewed have cut back on their electricity, water and gas consumption shows how much inflation affects daily life.
The reduction in the consumption of medicines, recorded by 36% of people, is another warning about the effects of the economic scenario on health.
Constant inflation pressure
The study indicates that inflationary pressure remains strong. Despite some signs of relief in other sectors of the economy, the impact on the prices of food and basic services continues to be one of the main problems faced by the population.
The survey does not present predictions or future trends, but reinforces the need for solutions that alleviate the burden of inflation on Brazilians' daily lives.
Among those interviewed, 50% reported having reduced their consumption of water, gas and electricity. This number shows that even essential services have been limited in the search for savings. Inflation, in addition to changing habits, has redefined priorities and forced difficult choices in thousands of homes across the country.
With information from Terra.
