Difficult to Digest Big Mac

Source: The Economist

The Economist released its latest Big Mac Index Study last weekend and, at least for those in Brazil or with very intensive contact to Brazil, the result is not a surprise. The Big Mac Index, according to the newspaper can be described as follows:

Burgernomics is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity (PPP), the notion that in the long run exchange rates should move towards the rate that would equalise the prices of an identical basket of goods and services (in this case, a burger) in any two countries.

If we apply this to Brazil and look at the chart above, we will see that according to this index, the BRL is overvalued against the USD by ca. 50%. Now this is fairly imprecise, as the Index does not show the relationship to GDP per person. The Economist recognized this and adjusted for GDP per person... and now the BRL seems even more overvalued...

Now I did study economics and although I have been outside of my field for quite a while, I believe that such a strong disconnect (BTW, also for Argentina) implies four things:

1. The Big Mac Index is flawed (not likely),
2. the Brazilian average GDP is set to rise to the level of the USA in a short timeframe (desireable but not likely), or
3. that the BRL is in for a huge devaluation...
4. or inflation within the next few months.

There is of course a further possibility: That the current scenario simply shows a temporary disconnect of several economic factors caused by fear of a destabilization of US and European economies, that several countries are threatened by defaults or at least rating downgrades and a flight to "safe harbors", such as Brazil is occuring.

I find it hard to believe that any of the four... five factors can explain the current scenario - but given the size of the gap I believe we are in for one severe indigestion.

Cooked Inflation

Everybody in South America talks about the understated inflation in Argentina. The government claims it to be 10%, but it most likely is 20+%...

Now I have seen life in Sao Paulo get more expensive over the past months. My unrepresentative list goes like this:

- Club Monthly Fees: 13.6%
- Picanha at my grocer: 45%
- Taxi fare: +28%
- Milk: +8%
- Private School: +12%
- Real estate: Do not even mention it...

Official inflation is only aroung 5-6% but prices have been creeping up beyond, mostly food - possibly a bi-product of commodity inflation. Official numbers are not confirmed at the levels above... yet. With commodity prices soaring all around the world, more is likely to come, but I am worried that there may be much more already here in the country.

My fears have been "confirmed" with two pieces of news I came across recently: This week's Veja magazine, which is running a (non-representative and somewhat populist) special and The Economist, which has compiled a Big Mac implied inflation index. This index puts inflation in Brazil at n+4%, so more around 10%... Keep your eyes and ears open.

EDIT: Where you look, more news. Here from the Brazil Institute.

We do not want your money

The Economist, Oct 14, 2010

Last week's The Economist claimed, in its Big Max Index, that the BRL is overvalued by over 40% vs the USD. While this is only one of many indexes, many in Brazil (as elsewhere) are talking about a new currency war.

Fact is, that the Real has gained much value against the USD and EUR over the past years, and is approaching (or is at) the all-time high of 2008 (before it plummeted and made holidays in Brazil a bargain for foreigners... for a while).

The Brazilian government has now responded, afraid that a further appreciation will hurt Brazilian competitiveness, and has raised the IOF (Financial Operations Tax) for foreign capital inflows for fixed capital investments for the second time this month to a staggering 6%. This is to keep "predatory investors" out of the Brazilian market, which has some of the highest interest rates in the world.

In fact, the rates are very attractive: A short-term fixed capital investment will easily give a post-tax return of over 6% p.a. - with local inflation around 5% this is still pretty attractive... if you assume FX-rates will remain stable.

Guido Mantega, the finance minister is afraid of this currency bubble... he should also start looking at a few other bubbles, most notably the housing market in São Paulo...