POLITICS Feletti resigns as domestic trade secretary, strengthening Guzmán's hand Yesterdat 17:21 Kirchnerite official steps down as head of Domestic Trade Secretariat, strengthening position of Economy Minister Martín Guzmán.
EDITORIAL April showers without May flowers 14-05-2022 00:01 Far from leaving his problems at home, while in Europe President Fernández took them on with a vigour almost never seen when staring him in the face at home.
Marcha Federal Piquetera Protesters demand jobs, better wages amid rampant inflation 12-05-2022 23:52 Tens of thousands of demonstrators from across the country descend on Buenos Aires for a massive rally, sparking traffic chaos in the capital.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Inflation continues to bite as INDEC reveals 6% jump in April 12-05-2022 23:44 Price increases totalled 23.1% in the first quarter, with prices hiked 58% over the last 12 months, according to official data.
BLOOMERG Central Bank raises key rate to 49% as inflation jumps 12-05-2022 20:19 Central Bank to raise interest rates for the fifth time this year in a bid to keep up with rising inflation.
PRICE HIKES Brazil April inflation rate hits 26-year high 11-05-2022 16:18 Brazil's inflation rate hit a 26-year high for the month of April, the government said Wednesday, as spiralling prices continued to defy the central bank's push to rein them in.
HARVEST BOOM Global grain shortage an opportunity for Argentina's 'green gold' 06-05-2022 15:48 Soybean harvest will be smaller than last year, but it will bring in record prices as a result of Russia's attack on Ukraine. Agro-industrial exports could reach as high as US$41 billion this year, according to experts.
Inflation & Currency Closing the 'escape valve' – Venezuela pursues de-dollarisation 06-05-2022 10:45 Venezuela is now trying to re-energise its own currency, the bolívar, which has been crippled by devaluation in recent years.
BRAZILIAN ECONOMY Brazil hikes key interest rate 10th straight time 04-05-2022 21:13 Brazil's Central Bank raises key interest rate for the 10th straight time, trying to tame surging inflation that has proved tough to slow for policy makers.
CRISIS IN VENEZUELA Venezuelan migrants say it's 'time to go home' 04-05-2022 15:39 Some Venezuelan migrants are returning to their country due to an apparent resurgence of opportunities after going through eight years of recession and four years of hyperinflation.
BLOOMBERG Two local banks allow customers to buy cryptocurrencies 03-05-2022 12:51 Banco Galicia, the country’s largest private bank by market value, and digital bank Brubank SAU will allow their customers to purchase crypto including Bitcoin, Ether and USDC starting Monday.
EDITORIAL Coins in the air 30-04-2022 01:09 There was a time when virtually everybody except the economists defined the economy by its bottom line. Things are no longer so binary or linear – least of all when trying to size up the Argentine economy today.
WELFARE & POVERTY Millions relying on food banks and soup kitchens as prices surge 29-04-2022 14:51 More than four million people depend on food banks and soup kitchens to eat in Argentina, and although the country has a well-oiled welfare network, the fight against high prices is tough and uncompromising.
DIPLOMACY US joins with 55 countries to promote free Internet 28-04-2022 09:32 Amid a rise in authoritarian governments such as Russia cracking down on access to digital information, the United States on Thursday will join with more than 50 countries in launching an initiative to protect an open, safe Internet.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IMF warns of significant risks facing Latin American growth 26-04-2022 10:05 Latin America and the Caribbean facing significant risks to growth, warns International Monetary Fund; Region's economy to grow 2.5% this year, with Argentina's GDP expected to improve 4%.
AND THAT REMINDS ME… Windfalls or smokescreens? 23-04-2022 00:01 In proposing to milk any commodity price bonanza arising from the Ukraine war without offering anything to recoup losses, the government is blatantly applying a “heads I win, tails you lose” logic. by Michael Soltys
EDITORIAL Anything but a holy week 16-04-2022 00:01 Inflation at this level traps the government in the austerity it abhors since prices and government revenues both rising in real time leave wages and pensions trailing, thus turning the political debate into an uphill battle.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Ricardo López Murphy: 'Argentina’s economic regime is very absurd’ 15-04-2022 15:10 Lawmaker, economist, former minister and ex-presidential candidate Ricardo López Murphy on Argentina’s struggles with inflation and the future of the opposition Juntos por el Cambio coalition. by Jorge Fontevecchia
PRICE HIKES ‘Inflation is paralysing Argentina’s economy,’ says IMF official 15-04-2022 01:10 Opposition critics let rip at government after damning INDEC data reveals extent of consumer price hikes.
SOCIAL UNREST Amid growing social unrest, inflation soars in Argentina 15-04-2022 00:58 INDEC data published just hours after protesters nationwide demand jobs, food and greater social aid.
BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS Argentina’s inflation surged to 20-year high in March 13-04-2022 21:07 Consumer prices in Argentina rose 6.7% in March, up 55.1% over past year; Rift between top two political leaders hampers inflation fight.
BLOOMBERG Central Bank raises key rate to 47% as inflation soars 13-04-2022 20:52 Central Bank raises interest rates for the fourth time this year after inflation data shows prices increasing at the fastest monthly pace in 20 years.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS INDEC reveals prices jumped 6.7% in March 13-04-2022 16:08 Consumer prices in Argentina rose 6.7% in March – the highest monthly rate in nearly six years, official data reveals.
Bloomberg Chile shifts to damage control with new pension proposal 12-04-2022 18:37 Finance Minister Mario Marcel says Chilean government will submit a bill that will allow a withdrawal from pension savings for specific purposes, such as paying utility bills, alimonies, past-due mortgages and for a first home.
PRICE HIKES Guzmán admits Argentina's March inflation figure will exceed 6% 12-04-2022 13:52 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán admits that March inflation figure will definitely be greater than six percent.
PRICE HIKES Inflation fears grow as Feletti takes aim at Guzmán 08-04-2022 23:51 Report by UMET university warns that prices rose 6.8% in March, with hikes affecting lower-income workers the most.
As I see it Stumbling into the dark 08-04-2022 23:27 Unless the politicians who are currently in opposition come up with a realistic recovery plan and acquire the power and authority to carry it through, the future could be far worse than even the most pessimistic dare to imagine. by James Neilson
And that reminds me… A demonised demon 08-04-2022 23:25 Vaccines against the coronavirus pandemic were discovered within a year but antibodies against inflation are still being sought after almost eight decades. by Michael Soltys
POLITICS Argentina’s ‘war against inflation’ provokes unrest in ruling coalition 05-04-2022 12:26 Officials in the ruling Frente de Todos coalition disagree on the best strategy for tackling this crucial battle. by Rosario Ayerdi
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Economy misses fourth-quarter estimates, but has record year 24-03-2022 14:45 GDP rose 10.3% in 2021, the best performance since the series began in 2004, according to official data.
CENTRAL BANK Argentina's Central Bank raises key rate to 44.5% as inflation heats up 23-03-2022 15:42 Central Bank raises benchmark rate for the third time this year as inflation continues to speed up.
BLOOMBERG Argentines flock to crypto games as economy eats up salaries 22-03-2022 17:09 Argentina has become the top place in Latin America for so-called 'play-to-earn' crypto games.
Bloomberg War in Ukraine has Argentina reverting to protectionist playbook 19-03-2022 19:16 Argentina's government is once again meddling in export markets, this time as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukrain.
'WAR ON INFLATION' President Fernández calls for extraordinary steps to tackle inflation 19-03-2022 19:09 Peronist leader says his ministers would start rolling out new measures immediately against inflation.
'WAR ON INFLATION' President Fernández hails 'historic' congressional backing for IMF deal 18-03-2022 21:59 Peronist leader unveils his "war on inflation" as he vows to tackle runaway price increases in wake of agreement with International Monetary Fund.
EDITORIAL Warfare replacing lawfare 18-03-2022 21:37 Not only is a “war” against inflation a tasteless choice of words in the current global context but also offers little promise of success.
IMF DEBT DEAL IMF admits Ukraine war will impact targets in Argentina’s new programme 18-03-2022 17:50 International Monetary Fund admits economic consequences of Russia's attack on Ukraine will likely impact upon targets outlined in Argentina’s new financing programme.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Cecilia Todesca Bocco: ‘Labour rights do not explain Argentina’s macroeconomic problems' 18-03-2022 12:20 International Relations Secretary Cecilia Todesca Bocco on the freshly approved IMF deal, policies to deliver economic growth in Argentina and politics in the family. by Jorge Fontevecchia
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Prices jumped 4.7% in February, compounding inflation concerns 18-03-2022 08:13 Inflation over the last 12 months now totals 52.3%, with prices up by 8.8% in just the first two months of the year.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Inflation quickens more than expected in new challenge 15-03-2022 21:42 Argentina’s inflation accelerated in February at its fastest pace in nearly a year, surpassing forecasts and challenging the government’s targets for this year.
AGRICULTURE Government suspends soybean exports as prices rise 14-03-2022 13:09 Argentina's government announced on Monday it had suspended exports of soybean flour and oil amid rumours it's planning to hike taxes due to soaring primary material costs.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Federico Sturzenegger: ‘Once the Central Bank is independent, the planets align’ 10-03-2022 15:50 Economist Federico Sturzenegger on his time leading the Central Bank, Economy Minister Martín Guzmán and Argentina’s IMF debt deals in 2018 and 2022. by Jorge Fontevecchia
RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE War in Ukraine compounds global food inflation, hunger crisis 08-03-2022 20:50 The world's next food emergency is here as war compounds hunger crisis.
NEW CONGRESS SESSIONS Fernández slams Macri in speech to Congress, prompting opposition walkout 04-03-2022 23:07 Opposition PRO party lawmakers walk out on speech to Congress after president once again attacks Macri for agreeing an “unpayable foreign debt” with IMF.
IMF DEBT DEAL Details of the IMF agreement that the government has sent to Congress 04-03-2022 18:22 Agreement foresees Argentina registering inflation of up to 48% this year, economic growth of 4.5% and receiving IMF disbursements of more than US$24 billion until end of 2022.
LATIN AMERICA: MIGRATION Disillusioned and 'betrayed,' Brazilians flock abroad 03-03-2022 14:00 Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America but every year thousands of its citizens pack their bags and head for pastures new.
Bloomberg Soybeans soar to nine-year high with South America supply in doubt 23-02-2022 16:21 Soybeans climbed to a nine-year high as dimming prospects for South American harvests threaten global supplies.
'MARCH THE TERRIBLE' Sense of dread grows in Argentina with difficult March ahead 18-02-2022 18:52 Crucial factors come into play next month. Soaring inflation, strained reserves, debate over the IMF deal and public-service tariffs are making March into a pressure cooker.
BLOOMBERG Argentina’s Central Bank raises key rate to 42.5% 18-02-2022 03:00 Second rate hike this year; IMF staff have called for interest rates in Argentina to exceed annual inflation.
Bloomberg Argentina’s 50% inflation has crypto credit cards booming 16-02-2022 20:41 With inflation surging at a more than 50% annually, cryptocurrency exchange Lemon Cash plans to increase issuance of Bitcoin rewards cards this year.