Argentina: Inflation jumps in January on a low-base effect
According to the National Statistical Institute (INDEC), national consumer prices rose 2.9% over the previous month in January, coming in above December’s 2.6% month-on-month increase.
January’s reading breaks the streak of three consecutive months of deceleration in month-on-month price increases. The strongest price increases were recorded for communication—due to notable mobile phone tariff increases—, restaurant and hotels, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco. The category of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which has an important weight in the index, also increased notably.
Meanwhile, inflation rose from December’s 47.6% to an over 27-year high of 49.3% in January, also due to a low-base effect from January 2018.