Brazil consumer prices rise 0.46 pct in month to mid-May

SAO PAULO, May 22 (Reuters) - Brazil's benchmark IPCA inflation index rose 0.46 percent in the month to mid-May, slightly below the median of analysts' forecasts, government statistics agency IBGE said on Wednesday. The index had been expected to rise 0.49 percent in the period, according to the median forecast of 26 analysts surveyed by Reuters. Estimates ranged from 0.38 percent to 0.51 percent. In the month to mid-April, the index rose 0.51 percent. In the 12 months to mid-May, in