Rentals, fuel, fares, prepaid cards and telephony: the 5 increases that will go into your pocket in February

At the gates of a new month, the second of 2023, Clarín anticipates the increases that will hit the pockets and which will have to be taken into account when we know how much money will be needed in February to cover basic expenses. Prepaid, fuel, telephony, rates and rentals, 5 increases arriving in the next few days.

The greatest impact on inflation (January will be known in the next few days) will come from update of public rateswhich continues with its plan to eliminate benefits, fuel and prepaid, the latter will rise for the first time in the year and with the new quota adjustment plan.

The latest projections see it Inflation in the first month of the year will be between 5.5 and 6%and points out that the drought is affecting vegetables, which have increased by almost 7%.

According to a study conducted by the consultancy Focus Market on a basket of basic services, in March a typical family will need about $320,000 to cover expenses for the month, including rent, school, prepaid and rates .

rentals

As happens month to month, tenants whose contracts are one year since the last update will have a snug fit 85.88%according to the calculation of the formula established by the current Rental Law, which is regulated by an index prepared by the Central Bank on the basis of the evolution of inflation (which in 2022 rose to the highest level in the last three decades) and wages.

If the renewal falls in the middle of the following month, the percentage adjustment could be even higher.

To find out how to calculate the increase your rent will have in February, if the annual adjustment falls in the second month of the year, Clarín Servicios has prepared a useful and practical guide.

Gas

The Government has agreed with the country’s main oil companies to include fuels in the Fair Prices program and to establish a maximum increase between December and March. The maximum allowed for January and February was and will be 4%. In March, the adjustment will be around 3.8%.

Then the government and companies they will sit down again to outline the rest of the year.

Fuels have a weight of 4.2% in the consumer price index (CPI). However, its increase also leads to higher logistics costs for companies, which have to pay more for the transport of their goods. In this sense, the indirect impact is greater.

rates

Two public hearings were held in January for the definition of the tariff increase of transport and distribution services, two costs that affect the final price of gas and electricity bills.

In the case of gas, these surcharges will be applied starting from February, but the definition of the exact percentage is still pending.

Electricity bills will go up in February. It is for the third part the removal of subsidies that the Ministry of Energy is carrying out. The increase will fall on households with higher incomes (called N1) and also on those with medium pockets (called N3).

Energy is studying the impact this reduction will have on bills. Industry sources estimate it at between 20% and 30%but the final decision will be up to the Executive Power and so far it has not communicated it.

Edenor and Edesur They called for an urgent increase in electricity bills. His managers said they lost money and needed a immediate increase in bills between $1,000 and $1,500 per month so as not to continue to have red in 2023. It was in a “virtual” public hearing held last Monday.

Prepaid

On January 20, the ability to upload the form that will allow users of prepaid drugs to pay less the monthly fee expired. Since February, as established by the Superintendence of Health Services, commission increases will be limited for those with less than six salary net incomes minimums, or $392,562 in January salary. Month by month, those interested in retaining the discount must complete a procedure which will be enabled until the 20th of each month.

Taking as reference the Ripte calculated at the end of December, the increase to be applied to the prepaid it will be 4.91% in February for those who are qualified. Holders who exceed this limitthey will have next month an increase of 8.21%.

Telephony

In early January, the government changed the methods of application of the next increases in services pay television, telephone and internet.

Mobile Communications Services (SCM) licensees are eligible to apply. from 1 February a new increase of up to 4% on the same prices, taking the updated values ​​as a reference. From 1st March the increase will reach 3.5%, while from 1st April this increase will repeat itself. Companies providing these services have already increased by 4% in January.

NS