Argentina: Consumer sentiment remains in the doldrums in August

The Universidad Torcuato di Tella (UTDT) consumer confidence index was stable in August from July at 36.3 points, and just a notch higher than June’s four-year low. As a result, the index remained significantly below the 50-point threshold that distinguishes pessimism from optimism among consumers, where it has been uninterruptedly for nearly a year.

August’s print reflected a modest improvement in consumers’ assessments of both their personal finances and the broader macroeconomic environment, which were offset entirely by a sharp decline in consumers’ willingness to purchase big-ticket household items.

Argentina Private Consumption Forecast

Panelists surveyed for the latest LatinFocus Consensus Forecast see private consumption rising 3.2% in 2018, which is unchanged from last month’s forecast. For 2019, panelists expect private consumption to increase 3.1%.