Brasilia: Brazil’s central bank accelerated the
pace of interest rate increases, as policymakers step up efforts to slow
inflation that forestalled the economy’s rebound in the first quarter.
The bank’s board, led by president Alexandre Tombini,
voted unanimously to raise the benchmark Selic rate 50 basis points
(bps) to 8%, matching the forecast of 19 of 57 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Thirty-eight analysts expected a second straight 25 bps increase. A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.