Argentina is positioned as the second most expensive country in Latin America to make purchases of food and beverage in supermarketsaccording to a private sector report. In detail, a family type of four people needs around U $ S557 per month for cover its basic basketan amount higher than that registered in countries such as Chile, Peru or Brazil.
The study takes A basket of products that replicates the basic food basket that INDEC Calculate for the Greater Buenos Aires region (GBA). To guarantee comparability, the same group of products and quantities was used in the other countries evaluated. In total, prices were relieved in 10 nations in Latin America.
The high costs of Argentine supermarkets
The study took data collected to April 21. In addition, the monthly consumption of a home composed of two adults and two children was considered.
The consultant selected up to five brands per product and the price of each was averaged. Thus, the report revealed that the cost of filling a changuito in Argentina is US $ 557, only behind the US $ 646 of Uruguay.
The study also emphasizes that the country is “very close to the cost in Mexico (US $ 547) ”. For its part, Paraguay appears as the most economical option in the entire region, with US $ 342.
Factors behind the high Argentine cost
Ecosur analysis identifies several elements that They explain the high cost of food in the country. Among them, he mentions the Stability of the official exchange rate in the last yearcombined with a high inflation, a high tax burden and restrictions on foreign trade.
As for the specific products that weigh the most in family spending, The vaccine meat leads the list. “A type family in Argentina spends around U $ S138 in this item per month “the report requires.
Then the bread (u $ s72), the Chicken meat (U $ S56), milk and drinks Like soda and wine (U $ S40 each). Vegetables, such as lettuce, tomato and potatoes, also represent a considerable expense, reaching approximately U $ S93 per month.
The impact of food inflation
In March, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) registered an increase of 3.7%, mainly driven For the field of food and non -alcoholic beverages, which rose 5.9%, As revealed by Indec. The consultants project that in April the IPC It will be between 2.7% and 3.5%, Although meat is expected to have been one of the products with the greatest increases.
INDEC INFLATION MARCH RUBROS.JFIF
In fact, according to the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute (IPCVA)the price of Meat at counter rose 6.1% in Aprilaccumulating an increase year -on -year of 65.1%. The average kilo was at $ 12,061, highlighting rises in cuts such as Osobuco (9.4%), Carnaza (8.1%), Roast Beef (7.9%), peceto (5.1%), width dike (4.9%) and quadril colita (3.3%).
Meanwhile, food negotiates with supermarkets moderate adjustments for the month of May. The initial lists sent by this sector were rejected, within the framework of the new exchange scheme agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Source: Ambito
