Between January and March, average inflation is 16.1%As for the food and beverage category, the one that most affects low or fixed income sectors, such as workers or retirees and retirees, the increase was 20.9%. So, even though at different levels inflation has hit all sectors, with more force it angers against those with fewer resources.

However, the main meals -with the greatest impact on the main family basket- increased significantly: the price of round tomatoes increased by 128.46%. Lettuce 88.96%. The dozen eggs 52.66%. Onion 45.20%. Ground coffee 32.56%. Table bread 40.53%. French bread 27.76%. Sugar 20.50%. Fresh milk 20.45%. The whole chicken 23.68%. And so we can continue the list according to the average prices analyzed by INDEC.

Almost everyone, in the first trimester, food -related increases had double digit increases. But not just food. They too cleaning and household items there was a strong increase, such as bread soap with 21.82%, shampoo 20.47%, disposable diapers 18.39%, toilet soap 18.04%, and liquid detergent 16.91%.

All of these percentages They expect that both the indigence basket and the poverty basket will again show increases above average inflation. bringing the family’s poverty line to over $ 90,000.

This is an amount that not only the unemployed or those receiving State assistance do not manage to collect, but 70% of informal wage earners and 25% of registered wage earners. And they marked a very strong increase in poverty and deprivation in the first quarter of the year.

The traders themselves admitted that “cautious prices” did not help to lower food inflation, as these products were not supplied to regions, cities and neighborhoods in the interior of the country. And where they are on the shelves, in many instances, they have a higher price than similar products that are not in the Program.

INDEC has reported in recent days that on average to get out of poverty, households must have an income of 58.5% higher than they receive.

Certainly with these numbers, among other measures, the Government decided promote parity, give $ 6,000 bonus to retirees collecting minimum retirement and increase food card which froze for 12 months.

However, they don’t seem to be enough because they don’t replace previous inflation, especially considering that salaries and pensions are between 20/30% lower than purchasing power by the end of 2017.

Continuing, price increases will continue to be feasible since the instruments used by the Government last year “anchor” inflation – tariffs and dollars, and yet, the increase in prices was 50.9% – this year was “unchecked”, as agreed by the IMF. It is estimated that in April the price index could vary by 5%, according to records of the first two weeks of the month.

The exchange rate or the official dollar – through which all foreign trade flows – exports and imports – is rising at a faster rate, which adds to the rise in international prices, causing of double marking of prices, and even with segmentation A sharp increase in rates is coming.

In addition, the Central Bank again raised the interest rate, making credit and growth more expensive, but it was still lower than inflation.

At least the impact of the increase in the cost of energy and raw materials as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the economic retaliation measures adopted by most of the planet that triggered international inflation.

In the case of Argentina, at 50% per year in previous years, international inflation has now been added which pivots on food and energy prices with a strong impact on the production costs of services and manufactured products.