Whether they are on the counters of the typical neighborhood butchers or on the trays placed in the gondolas of supermarkets, the prices of beef – today – have a common denominator: the high price (still rising less than inflation) and a large dispersion.

The inflation rate in January (6%) attracted the attention of the Government, which reacted with a series of measures to contain the increases, such as the freezing of seven cuts until 31 March and the refund of 10% of the expenditure for those who pay by debit card.

However, butchers are skeptical of the benefits advertising can have for their businesses. basically why high informality in the field.

The wide gap between the values ​​is accentuated both between the sales channels and in the various geographical areas. a kilo of roast It can cost $1,700 in a Constitución butcher shop as much as $3,069, in the most expensive supermarket chain. Either way, the effect on both ends is the same: consumption does not resume and remains at only 47 kilos per inhabitant per year, its all-time low.

“These deals are not good for small businesses. They can only be applied to large chains that have more expensive prices than neighborhood butchers, ”said the owner of a butcher’s shop in Balvanera. On their chalkboards, they showed the roast cover for $1,890; the matambre, at $1,950; the shoulder at $1,690 and the roast, at $1,890 a pound.

Meanwhile, in an area business located on a busy corner of Munro, another butcher has raised other reasons to show his pessimism: “Here people don’t come by card, they pay in cash because they only buy for the day. It can work for supermarkets,” he agreed.

A few kilometers away, Raúl, office manager of a butcher’s shop installed in a Chinese self-service, explained: “That meat with those prices won’t be in all butcher’s shops, except those in the neighbourhood. Moreover, the meat has not increased for many months, it has only increased for a few days but it is a recomposition what was expected,” he said.

The trader then referred to the fact that, in the last year, when inflation reached 94.8%, meat prices increased by 60%. As for the potential discount for paying by card, he slipped: the butcher wants to collect cash. If not, the meat doesn’t go down”, he smiled.

In supermarkets and refrigerated butchers, where from this Friday they will have the seven cuts at a discounted price, consumers will access differences between 30 and 35%, according to an estimate by the Secretary of Commerce. However, that difference It will depend on the prices currently in force in the shops.

For example, the “reduced” price of the roast will be $1,035, whereas yesterday, that cut it cost $1,649 at a Coto supermarket and $1,359 at a Carrefour outlet.

Other cuts such as the buttock, slated by the official schedule at $1,375, need to settle from $1,899 levels or $2,435 a kilo as it was tagged yesterday at a Jumbo branch.

The Government aims to guarantee a floor of 15,000 tons, a 15% of total consumption in Argentina of 65,000 tons. That volume is what will be marketed -every day- in the supermarkets grouped into the main chambers: ASU, CAS and FASA.

Among the measures, a 10% cashback for consumers who pay with debit cards and the advantage can be combined with a 35% discount from Banco Nación in butcher shops which will be launched in the next few days.