Uruguayan supermarkets rejected the idea of establishing zero kilo on the border with Argentinaa measure that other sectors do demand, to combat the exodus of consumption to the neighboring country as a consequence of the exchange difference.
The general manager of the Association of Supermarkets of Uruguay (ASU), Daniel MenendezThis was stated during an interview with Informativo Carve in which, on the other hand, he did demand measures to reduce levels of smuggling who are currently registering.
Menéndez warned that private projections show that the situation of the exchange difference will last several years and added that they do not blame Uruguayans who travel to Argentina to buy because it is logical that the population looks for cheaper supplies.
On the other hand, the representative of the country’s supermarkets indicated that in the sector “they are very complicated in billing, because supermarket sales did not recover after the pandemic”.
“We are losing the summer seasons that generated an important tailwind for the rest of the year. “You don’t see the light at the end of the road,” said Menéndez.
The problem of smuggling from Argentina has been increasing in recent months hand in hand with the increase in the price gap in the coastal area.
Ana Laura Fernandezeconomic advisor to the Chamber of Commerce and Services of Uruguay (CCSUy)he said, in a recent interview with Ambitthat “there are large flows of contraband that are entering the country motivated by price differentials and because in some places there is space for merchandise to enter and be sold.”
“This also affects the economic results of companies. We try to ensure that the consumer does not buy fake things, but it is a reality that prices are lower,” he added.
Regarding the negotiations within the framework of the Salary Councilwhere the supermarket sector has not yet closed the salary adjustment, the businessman considered that it is difficult to negotiate in this context “because you have to be responsible because it is negotiated for two years ahead.”
“The government guideline was a inflation 2.7% but we don’t know how we will get to December. We are proposing a difference with the guidelines of the Executive Branch,” he explained, pointing out that inflation is on the decline and that businessmen could be affected by negotiating increases higher than the real figure.
Source: Ambito
