Reais Crisis. The value of the Brazilian reais (BRL or R\$) was BRL 1.76 to 1.00 USD on Thursday, January 24,2008 . It then plunged in value to BRL 2.45 to 1.00 USD on January 26,2009 . What was the percentage change in its value? What was the percentage change in its value? The percentage change in the Brazilian real's value is \%. (Round to two decimal places. A negative value must be entered with a negative sign.)