“People are very aware of the dollar, more than anything else of the blue dollar, because no one can access the official dollar. To add humor and vibes to the crisis, we priced tomatoes at $2.75.”said Fernando, manager of the greengrocer.
At that price and according to yesterday’s closing, the kilo of tomato in pesos was 1,330 dollars. “Unfortunately, at that value it would be convenient for us, but that price was only indicative,” said the seller, who also assured that the kilogram of tomatoes is slightly lower, at $1,200.
When asked by the TN reporter why he had chosen to put only the price of the tomato in dollars and not the rest of the commodity, the traders clarified that “It has been the one that has increased the most in recent times”. In fact, he said last week they wanted to charge $18,000 for a case of tomatoes at the Central Market, when they sold for about $6,000 at the same place a few days ago.
Even in the latest INDEC inflation measurement, the round tomato was the food that increased the most. In a month, became 63.4% more expensive and it’s gone from $426.62 to $697 a pound, though there are places you can charge up to nearly $2,000 a pound.
Fernando, the manager of greengrocer Thames y Velazco, has assured that the value of the tomatoes will soon drop: “Maybe first to $800, then to $600. The kilo should go to $200 or 2 kilos to $300,” he commented.
On cross-examination he will give it back in dollars, the trader continued with the humor. “I don’t have dollars in the box, it’s going to be hard to give change in dollars (say, the 25 cents left to complete $3),” he said. And he added: “If someone comes to buy with dollars, he should give them change “cherry tomatoes. Like the Chinese do with sweets.
The idea generated all kinds of reactions: some laughed, others took pictures and some even got angry. But beyond the reactions, he did not rule out continuing to “dollarize” products such as kiwis and avocados, others which have recently become more expensive and have higher weight values than other foodstuffs.
April inflation
Last week, and after reversing its decision to postpone the publication of inflation, the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec) released April data: 8.4%. The “food and non-alcoholic beverages” category was one of those with the highest average increase, with 10.1%.
As detailed by the agency, the ten foods that have increased the most during the fourth month of the year had adjustments greater than 10%. What went up the most was just the round tomato that went by $426.62 to $697 per kiloa change of 63.4% in the month.
Followed by the kilogram of whole chicken, which rose from 621.50 to 774.33 dollars (an increase of 26.4%) and sugar, which cost 293.61 dollars in March and an average of 355.67 dollars in April, with an increase by 21.1%.
Also strong is the price adjustment of the dozen eggs: $128.27 just got more expensive in just 30 daysrising from $616.35 to $744.62, 20.8% higher.
Just below are orange fillet and fresh hake, which recorded increases of 19.8% and 19% respectively. Butter (12.2%), wholemeal white rice (11.3%), cream cheese (10.8%) and sweet biscuits (10.4%) packaged without filling.
NS
Source: Clarin
