Hidden social costs of inflation slowdown in Córdoba

A report shows that while 2025 inflation closed at 31.4%, more than half of Córdoba households cannot cover the basic food basket, and nearly 90% must go into debt to eat. The drop in consumption and income deterioration push thousands of families into a 'daily default'. This reopens the debate on poverty measurement in the province.

The Statistics Institute of the Córdoba Grocers Center released a report exposing the social cost behind the inflation slowdown in Córdoba. While 2025 annual inflation fell to 31.4%, more than half of households in the province cannot afford the basic food basket. Nearly 90% of families go into debt to access food, leading to a 'daily default' for thousands.

The decline in consumption and real income deterioration worsen this situation. Meanwhile, a 2019 scientific experiment in Córdoba challenged the basic basket's composition, which has remained unchanged for decades. That study showed that following such a diet harms health within months, focusing on filling the stomach without proper nutrition.

In 2026, with rising prices and stagnant wages, data on child malnutrition and purchasing power loss heighten the issue. The report warns that this 'financed hunger' highlights a hidden impact of economic policies, where inflation control comes at the expense of social welfare. It raises questions about what poverty truly measures in the region.

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