Argentina's Northeast (NEA) recorded 4.1% inflation in March, the highest in the country per INDEC data, exceeding the national 3.4%. The region has accumulated 11.5% this year, driven by food, services, and utilities. This widens the regional gap with areas like Patagonia at just 2.5%.
The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) reported that the NEA, comprising Chaco, Corrientes, Formosa, and Misiones, saw a 4.1% price rise in March. This outpaced the Northwest (4.0%), Cuyo (3.2%), and Patagonia (2.5%), positioning NEA as the most affected region.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 4.5% in the area, with significant impact from meats and derivatives. Regulated services increased 7.4%, driven by utilities, transport, and education, where hikes reached up to 22.7% due to the school year start.
Year-to-date through the first quarter, NEA accumulated 11.5%, above the national 9.4%, with interannual inflation at 33.4% versus 32.6% countrywide. Services climbed 6.1%, outstripping goods at 3.5%, adding pressure on household spending.
The national government attributed part of the rise to external factors like fuels and forecasted a slowdown ahead. Yet, the figures indicate a more intense inflationary dynamic in NEA, where incomes average below the national level.
