According to him National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC)the Sales in supermarkets They grew up just 1.5% In February from a very low floor after the devaluation of 2023 and fell 0.3% compared to the previous month. In the third month of the year, they warn of the First fall in economic activity After 10 months of uninterrupted monthly growth.
“If the GDP is growing so much, it cannot be that consumption is not growing, in fact, if you take it nationally, consumption is flying. What is happening is that the consumption modality is changing,” argued the president, who requested Look at the balances of companies that are dedicated to e-commerce.
What about GDP?
Breaking Milei’s words, although the Economic activity comes on a recovery path with a rise in 0.8% monthly in February and a 5.7% interannual (AI), among the sectors that stand out is Financial intermediation (30.2% AI) and Fishing (28.3% AI). Meanwhile, the wholesale, retail trade and repairs He advanced 7.4% AI. But, while the year -on -year rise is important, the comparison base (February 2024) is low due to the fall after the devaluation.
In addition, for March, they warn about a contraction of the activity economic around 1.2% monthlyaccording to the consultant Orlando Ferreres and associates. In interannual terms, growth of the 7.8%so he accumulated for the first quarter of the year a rise of 7.3%. “The greatest negative incidence came from the industryalthough the monthly setback of the trade and construction“They explained.
What about consumption via e-commerce?
Javier Milei asked “Open the E-Commerce Balances” of companies like Free marketbut it does not have updated measurements. Just observe that the category “Supermarkets” A grew 13% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year and already add more than 11,000 vendors.
“The habit of consumption is directed towards the e-commerce, even for everyday purchases that were previously concentrating on the great physical chains,” they stand out from the company.
Despite this, Osvaldo del Río, Director of Scentia, explained to Scope than the Mass consumption through e-commerce “Relatively little weight” in front of the Face -to -face sale. In that line, he confirmed that these sales are positive around 8.4% during the first quarter of the year compared to the same period of 2024, according to the measurement of the consultant, but that They fail to “neutralize” the falls of “offline” consumption.
Consumption is closer to a “Recovery principle”taking into account the total falls of 2024, said Del Río. Is that, in the total sum of the Mass consumptionincluding supermarkets, self-services, warehouses, kiosks, pharmacies, e-commerce and wholesaler to final consumer, It is positive in 1.6% in March in front of a very depressed comparison base as was 2024.
“Only the supermarket and self -service category – which adds to 70% of the total consumption – had given 5.4% negative, but as sales in warehouses, kiosks and pharmacies grew a lot made the index rise to 1.6%,” said the specialist. In that sense, consumption is explained by “Expenditure administration”.
The growth of sales in close businesses (kiosks, warehouses, etc.) is due to the fact that classes of less purchasing power do not have the possibility of making a large purchase, but that they are acquiring the necessary products day by day in kiosks or neighborhood stores, paying in some cases higher prices and without discounts, due to the availability of money, which many times when it comes to the famous “changas” is paid daily or weekly.
The Argentine Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CACE)for its part, it does not have updated statistics. The closing of 2024 shows that purchase orders recorded a growth of 5%, the child in several years, which demonstrates a fall in consumption. According to Gustavo Sambucettichamber director, the rise is explained to a greater extent by the Consumption recovery in the second semester.
“There was no growth that there were previous years, when electronic consumption grew to grow at 20% (2020 record for pandemic) and other years about 15%, “said the specialist.
When asked about the president’s words, Sambucetti agreed that “of all channels, the e-commerce is the one that is best performing,” although he did not manage to ensure that this translates into a recovery of sales that were lost in other channels: “I don’t know how much impact on the total index the sale e-commerce,” he added.
The Cace launches the Hot Sale Next week and expect there to be a sales rise. “This year we have more than 1,000 brands and it is almost record,” says Sambucetti – with the exception of 2021 when they were 1,080 companies. Now we are in 1,020 and they will put several discounts, they have products unlike other years. “
“We are in an offer market, while previous years we were in one of demand. Companies are with sales below expectations that are why they aim to give great discounts. This benefits the consumer, “added the director of Cace.
In the latest online sales events such as Cybermondayalso organized by CACE, among the categories with the greatest billing was food and drinksalthough the products are not usually among the most expensive, with the second place behind the appliances and air conditioners.
This phenomenon is explained by the need for savings within the framework of the strong loss of the purchasing power of Argentines. Supermarkets make discounts above those on the floor, plus the possibility of financing on some occasions, which generates an attraction to consumers. According to Sambucetti, when these events are approaching many people also choose to postpone purchases to make them with discounts and financing.
Another factor that could stop the rebound in consumption, as the government expects, is the stagnation of private wages. Although in February the public hosts, which are delayed, managed to beat inflation, the private registered lost. Registered salaries accumulate a loss of 4.9% purchasing power since November 2023: while those of the public sector observe a collapse of the 14.7% In this period, private ones recover just 0.2%.
Source: Ambito
