Argentinas November inflation rose for a fourth month, to 2.5%

Argentina’s prices went up by 2.5% in November, a slight increase from 2.3% the previous month, figures released by the INDEC statistics bureau showed on Thursday afternoon. It is the fourth month in a row that inflation has risen, and the sixth month it has not fallen. Prices rose by 31.4% in the previous 12 months and by 27.9% in the first eleven months of the year. The highest increase came in the household and fuels sector, with a 3.4% jump, followed by transportation, which increased by 3%.  “Monthly inflation bottomed out in May at 1.5%, and since then has accelerated in five of the following six months,” economist Christian Buteler posted on X. “In November, year-on-year inflation also accelerated, rising from 31.3% to 31.4%.” This is the second-to-last month the INDEC will measure inflation with the current goods basket, which dates back to 2004. Starting in January 2026, the statistics bureau will replace it with a more recent selection from 2017-2018. The poverty line for a four-person household is now AR$1.2 million (US$835 at the official rate) according to the figures — up 3.6% on the previous month. According to the Ecolatina consulting firm, salaries are not keeping up with inflation. In November, wage increases averaged 1.7%, the fifth month in a row they have been between 1.6% and 1.9%.   “Wage negotiations have stabilized after the inflationary surge in March and April,” a report by Ecolatina said. “However, the balance is negative: this stabilization consolidated below the [inflation index].” This means that most sectors will lose purchasing power this year, the report added. The Economy Ministry, which usually celebrates inflation figures on social media, limited itself to publishing the number.