As can be seen from the latest numbers, that is still true. Brazilian unemployment rose very slightly, 0.4 percentage points, in January, compared to December 2009, reaching 7.2%, according to the government statistical bureau (IBGE). However, compared to January 2009, unemployment is down one percentage point, dropping from 8.2%.
The IBGE reports that the number of unoccupied people rose 6%, up 1.7 million, between December and January.
The occupied population was 21.6 million, up 2.1% compared to January 2009.
The number of registered, on-the-books workers was up 3.5%, compared to January 2009, an increase of 333,000 workers.
Average take home pay (1,373.50 reais) was up 1.1%, compared to December 2009, but down 0.4%, compared to January 2009 (when it was 1,378.74 reais).
Bank of Brazil
The Bank of Brazil registered net profit of 10.15 billion Brazilian reais (US$ 5.6 billion) in 2009, growth of 15.3% over the result for 2008. The figures were disclosed in the city of São Paulo by the organization’s president, Aldemir Bendine.
The bank’s financial reserves totaled 65.3 billion reais (US$ 35.7 billion) in 2009, 11.9% over the total in the previous year. Of this total, 41.7 billion reais (US$ 22.8 billion) came from credit operations, growth of 21% over the 2008 result (R$ 34.5 billion – US$ 18.9 billion).
Machinery
The Brazilian machinery and equipment industry plans to invest 8.9 billion Brazilian reais (US$ 4.9 billion) this year, which represents growth of 20% over last year. This according to the Brazilian Machinery Manufacturers Association (Abimaq).
Last year, the sector invested 7.43 billion reais (US$ 4 billion). In January this year, there was 26.1% reduction in nominal sector revenues when compared to the same period in 2009.