Not just the February inflation It accelerated to 2.4% compared to January (from 2.2% monthly), but also the Consumer Price Index (CPI) last month left a worrying fact: there was a strong rise in foodmainly traced by the increase in the meatwhich registered increases of up to 9.7%, as was in the case of the Patagonian region.
From the private consultants The evolution of prices is closely followed to determine if this trend in food will continue. One of the most important surveys is that of LCGand from there they revealed that While the first two weeks of March presented significantly lower increases compared to those registered in the same period of February, The monthly average was set at 3.4%, still showing an acceleration.
“The last weekly rise was driven by the increase in vegetables, dairy and drinksalthough it was attenuated by the fall in Sugar, fruits and meats“They revealed. Thus the main increases for the average of the last four weeks were for: Dairy products and eggs (+5.3%), meats (+5.1%), Drinks and infusions (+3.5%), Cereal and pasta bakery (+2.4%).
From this consultant they stressed that Meats and dairy products rose more than 5% in the last 4 weeks and explain 70% of food inflation.
“The first week of March the food rise was 0.3%, marking a strong reduction compared to the previous weeks, already without the weight of the increases in the meat. With this data and considering a projected rise for the coming weeks of 0.5% -under the average of the previous weeks -,, Food inflation consumed within the home would amount to 2.4% in March. Incorporating the increases registered in food consumed outside the home (2.8%), the indicator is maintained by 2.4%, “they said, in the meantime. Eco Go.
For its part, the economist Franco Spotorno, From the consultancy Orlando Ferreresestimated a rise in food of 4.5% for March.
Meats, fruits and vegetables: how prices started in March
After a February where he rises in the price of meats, he traccorted inflation, March began “more moderate.” Thus, according to the consultant Eco Go, The chicken stood out in the week with a rise of 2.5%where semi -prepared products (4.7%) highlighted. The Vaccine meatOn the contrary, he scored a 0.1%drop, driven by the decline in the rear cuts (-0.5%), which did not be compensated by the rise in the front cuts (0.1%).
“The pig also records falls and was 0.8% below the previous week”they explained from the same consultant. As for fruits and vegetables, while the latter scored a rise of 2.1%in the week driven by the category “other fresh and frozen vegetables” (3%) and potatoes (0.5%), Fruits experienced a 3.2% drop. The drop in the apple price (-2.5%) and in the “other fruits” category (-6.9%) overcompens the rise in the price of citrus (0.5%).
Inflation for March: What anticipates the market on general measurement
In dialogue with Scopefrom Facimex They projected An IPC of 2.25% for March and anticipated that “inflation would remain at levels similar to those before The high statistical drag left by high frequency dataafter the rises of the meats and the usual increases that usually occur in March in educationfor the beginning of the classes, and in dressfor the change of season. “
In this sense, in the first week of March from the consultant Orlando Ferreres They measured an acceleration at 2.4% monthly, considering the last four weeks against the previous four weeks; while the data of Balances They point to 2.5% monthly and those of Eco Go to the 23%.
“After the transitory pause of February and March, we believe that Disinflation will resume in April and that inflation will break 2% monthly at the end of the second quarter of 2025will converge at 1.5% monthly at the end of this year’s third quarter and close the year in 25% per year, “they closed from Facimex.
Source: Ambito
