The index of economic activity in Brazil, compiled by the Brazilian central bank, was 3.34 percent lower in May than the month before, depressed by a national strike by truckers, Xinhua reports.
The Chinese government-run news agency says the strikers blocked main roads for 11 days in May in protest against increases in the price of fuel.
The report says the Brazilian government estimates that the strike caused economic losses amounting to 15.9 billion reais (US$4.1 billion).
The central bank and the government now forecast that the Brazilian economy will grow by 1.5 percent or so this year, half the rate of growth forecast earlier this year, Xinhua says.
