News of prices

Argentina takes steps to dollarise and holds key rate

17-01-2025 11:49 Argentina’s Central Bank said payment intermediaries will have to enable debit card transactions in US currency by February 28, marking a key step in President Javier Milei’s pledge to dollarise the economy.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

INDEC reveals Argentina's 2024 inflation rate: 117.8%

14-01-2025 16:38 Annual inflation nosedives in boost for Milei; Prices rose 2.7% last month, reports INDEC; Bureau’s data shows inflation fell almost 94 points year-on-year.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

City inflation accelerated slightly to 3.3% last month

09-01-2025 13:50 Consumer prices rose 3.3% last month due to increases in services; City Hall data shows that inflation over the last 12 months totalled 136.7% in 2024.

WORLD ECONOMY

Five key points about the Panama Canal, now in Trump's sights

23-12-2024 21:42 President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to reclaim control of the Panama Canal unless toll prices for US ships are reduced, but local authorities rejects his claim.

Latin America

US deports co-founder of Escobar's Medellin Cartel to Colombia

23-12-2024 21:23 Fabio Ochoa Vásquez, founder of the Medellín Cartel, is deported to Colombia after serving over 20 years in a US prison for drug-trafficking.

ANALYSIS

Milei hints at FX policy move after inflation slows below 3%

12-11-2024 17:23 Inflation slowed more than expected last month to its lowest level in three years, buoying an already ebullient President Javier Milei.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation slowed to 2.7% in October – lowest level in almost three years

12-11-2024 16:59 Consumer prices have increased by 107% in the first 10 months of the year and by 193% over the last year, reveals INDEC bureau.

ECONOMY – ANALYSIS

Argentina inflation slows to lowest under Milei

10-10-2024 16:36 Monthly inflation reached the lowest level since late 2021 in September – a significant win for President Javier Milei.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Monthly inflation slows to lowest level since November 2021

10-10-2024 16:17 Consumer prices rose 3.5% in September; Annual inflation now at 209%, with hikes of 101.6% so far this year.

by James Grainger

ECONOMY – ANALYSIS

Argentina posts slightly higher than expected August inflation

11-09-2024 17:01 Argentina’s monthly inflation rose slightly above expectations in August, representing a setback for President Javier Milei.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation rises slightly to monthly 4.2%, dashing government hopes

11-09-2024 16:43 Prices have increased 94.8% in Argentina since the turn of the year, according to official data; Consumer price hikes at monthly 4.2% – slight rise on the preceding month and above government forecast of 4%.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation slowed to 4% in July, lowest monthly rate of Milei era

14-08-2024 17:02 Latest figure from INDEC national statistics bureau indicates consumer prices are continuing to slow, but annual rate remains at staggering 263.4%.

ECONOMY – ANALYSIS

Inflation slows to lowest level since 2022 under Milei

14-08-2024 16:47 Consumer prices rose 4% in July from a month earlier, while annual inflation slowed to 263.4%, according to government data.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation accelerated slightly to 4.6% in June, says INDEC

12-07-2024 16:23 Inflation rose slightly in June from previous month, by 0.4 points; Consumer prices rose 4.6% overall in June and have soared 271.5% in the last 12 months.

ECONOMIC POLICY

Milei says he would slow crawling peg if inflation cools further

01-07-2024 12:10 President Javier Milei says peso could weaken at a slower pace if inflation cools to a certain level.

AGRICULTURE & ECONOMY

Argentina has surplus harvest, but farmers want more from Milei

22-06-2024 09:03 Farmers are delaying agricultural sales as they wait for President Javier Milei to eliminate taxes and exchange barriers.

ECONOMIC CRISIS

Argentines pawn the family jewels to make ends meet

17-06-2024 14:15 Hundreds of Argentines are selling their jewellery at gold dealerships every day as a last resort to face the economic crisis.

UTILITIES & SUBSIDIES

Milei begins to slash energy subsidies for low-income sectors

06-06-2024 11:59 Low-income homes will see the energy cost of their utility bills double on average in June, while middle-class families could see prices rise 155%.

ECONOMY – ANALYSIS

Inflation cools for fourth straight month

14-05-2024 17:00 Monthly inflation in Argentina slowed in April for the fourth straight month, dropping into single-digit territory for the first time in Javier Milei’s Presidency.

Economic indicators

Monthly inflation slows to single digit: 8.8% in April

14-05-2024 16:13 Inflation dropped below 9% in April, reveals INDEC; Boost for Milei government but cost of living still rose 65% in the first four months of the year and totals 289.4% over the last 12 months.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

City monthly inflation rate drops to single digit in boost for government

08-05-2024 21:36 Inflation in Buenos Aires City was 9.8% in April for an annual rate of 292.5%; Boost for government ahead of next week’s national INDEC figure.

HEALTH & ECONOMY

Government intervenes to halt private health scheme price surge

17-04-2024 17:21 Free-market Milei administration uses state power to challenge firms and announces most prepaid health schemes are rolling back runaway price increases; "The Argentina of wise guys is over," declares presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation in Buenos Aires City 13.2% in March

09-04-2024 16:45 Slight slowdown from previous month; Impact of services sector, specifically, energy transport and private school fees and health service costs, hits pockets of porteños.

POLITICS – ANALYSIS

Attitudinal shifts and the risks of upheaval

06-04-2024 06:24 Milei’s “negative rhetoric,” sustained by his synthetic power, is useful in setting the agenda, but it doesn’t put food on the table.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS

Milei races against time to ease pain unleashed by shock therapy

03-04-2024 12:03 Argentina’s president, who won last November’s run-off with 56% of the vote, is in a race against time to bring inflation back down and hold on to that popularity.

FINANCE

Milei seeks US$15 billion for removal of currency controls

18-03-2024 11:24 President Javier Milei says he would open up restrictions on foreign currency immediately if he has US$15 billion; Money could be provided by the IMF, multilateral bodies, private investors and even “some countries."

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

'Very complicated': Milei warns inflation rate for March could be high

11-03-2024 14:29 Argentina’s president says consumer price hikes are slowing and that he “is convinced” battle against inflation will be won.

INFLATION

Food prices have risen by up to 70% over last three months

06-03-2024 15:24 Hikes were driven by grocery products, fruits and vegetables, and meats, according to a private report.

ECONOMIC CRISIS

Milei caps minimum wage rise at 30% amid soaring inflation

21-02-2024 13:13 La Libertad Avanza leader backtracks on vow not to set minimum wage unilaterally; 30% hike over next two months for low-paid workers; Unions and employers fail to reach agreement.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Milei, Caputo hail ‘deceleration’ as annual inflation rate exceeds 250%

15-02-2024 14:31 Consumer prices slowed in January to 20.6%, reveals INDEC national statistics bureau; Annual inflation rate reaches 254%.

RUNAWAY PRICE HIKES

President Milei blasts inflation data, focused on reforms

15-02-2024 11:36 President Javier Milei blasts Argentina’s monthly inflation figure of 20.6% in January as “horrendous.”

POVERTY

More hunger, less money: Soup kitchens count rations

15-02-2024 00:33 At community meal centres across Argentina, a dual crisis is biting: the influx of ever more hungry mouths to feed during an economic crisis, and a decision by President Javier Milei's new government to freeze their aid.

INFLATION WOES

Latin America’s inflation progress tempered by soaring food price pressures

08-02-2024 14:28 Consumer price readings underscore challenges facing Latin American policymakers as they calibrate future interest rate cuts. Most of the region’s major inflation-targeting central banks have already begun reducing borrowing costs

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

OECD: Argentina's inflation rate to soar to 250% this year

05-02-2024 10:02 Annual inflation rate expected to skyrocket to 250.6% in 2024, forecasts Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

IMF cuts Argentina 2024 growth forecast, forecasts 2.8% contraction

30-01-2024 15:55 Multilateral lender warns that inflation is expected to increase in the short term, projecting growth of minus 2.8 percent this year and plus five percent in 2025.

GRIPPED BY CRISIS

In danger of extinction? Middle class slammed by crisis and austerity measures

16-01-2024 17:16 The removal of subsidies, rising rent and the increased costs of prepaid healthcare schemes and private schools are slamming the middle class, specialists warn. March will be a difficult month with the start of classes and the billing of basic public services shooting up.

by Agustina Bordigoni

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Venezuela's inflation rate slows to 189% – below Argentina's

13-01-2024 10:19 Venezuela recorded inflation of 189.9% last year, meaning that Argentina saw the highest consumer price hikes over the last 12 months in Latin America.

EDITORIAL

Prices out of the market

12-01-2024 15:24 President Milei wants to avoid the failures of Mauricio Macri’s gradualism but the shock approach might have too short a fuse.

Living with inflation

Runaway inflation sends food prices soaring in Argentina

11-01-2024 18:29 Consumer prices have soared more than 200% in Argentina over the last 12 months, with food leading the way. Some items increased by more than 600%.

by Ramiro Speranza

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation surpassed 211% in 2023, reveals INDEC

11-01-2024 16:45 Prices jumped 25.5% in December last year following devaluation of peso; Food prices soared an incredible 251.3% over the last 12 months, says statistics bureau.

ENERGY & GAS

Javier Milei seeks free oil markets by law in shale-rich Argentina

29-12-2023 21:23 Milei wants to unshackle crude exports and leave local fuel prices at the whim of market forces.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS?

No jingle in Argentine pockets as economic grinch ruins Christmas

22-12-2023 12:50 With inflation running at more than 160% per annum, Argentines across the country are shopping around and going city to city as they search to get their festive gifts at the best prices.

PRICES THROUGH THE CEILING

Inflation accelerates: 30% expected in December after devaluation

21-12-2023 07:39 Analysts warns of major mark-ups triggered by the economic measures of the Javier Milei government.

INFLATION WOES

Price hikes soar with a vengeance in inflation-weary Argentina

15-12-2023 14:24 Experts warn of ‘inflationary shock’ in wake of Javier Milei’s first measures; Milei could pay the price for pushing correction onto citizens and not the “political caste,” as promised.

by Justin Martinez

Living with inflation

'We have to endure' - Argentines stoic as prices skyrocket

14-12-2023 14:17 Argentines, while worried about the future, appear resigned to a fate Javier Milei warned them of when he took to the campaign trail.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Milei kicks off government with 160.9% annual inflation rate

14-12-2023 00:41 Prices soared 12.8% in November, prior to the new president’s inauguration; Concerning increases for health, food and beverages, with dramatic post-devaluation uptick expected next month.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Argentina November inflation quickened before Milei devaluation

13-12-2023 23:28 Consumer prices rose 12.8% in November from a month earlier, according to official data. From a year ago, inflation stands at 160.9%.

PRICE HIKES

Fuel prices soar a further 37% after devaluation of peso

13-12-2023 17:46 Fuel prices will soar around 37% on average over the course of the week following Economy Minister Luis Caputo's devaluation of the peso.

INFLATION

Supermarkets and shops see price hikes of up to 50%

12-12-2023 18:20 Given the end of the price agreement, the heads of big business and corner shops have had rises well above the weekly inflation. They have also warned about shortages on shelves.

by Martín Fernández Nadale