BUENOS AIRES, Jan 11 (Reuters) – Argentine retiree Susana Barrio can no longer host her friends for the traditional asado barbecue, a staple of social life in Argentina. Soaring meat and vegetable prices have made it increasingly unaffordable, as the country grapples with inflation reaching nearly 200%.
Last year, Argentina experienced one of the highest levels of inflation in the world. Grocery costs have risen sharply, putting a strain on people’s finances as salaries and pensions have failed to keep up. In December, inflation was estimated to be around 28%, with food prices surging even further after a significant devaluation of the peso currency.
We’ve had to eliminate things that made life a little brighter, said 79-year-old Barrio. That joy it gave me to invite my friends for a barbecue, which is typical here, now that’s impossible.
Countless Argentine citizens like Barrio are feeling the impact of the escalating cost of living. Guillermo Cabral, a 60-year-old butcher shop owner in Buenos Aires, explained, You totally lose track of prices. Cabral once inadvertently quoted a customer 35,000 pesos ($43) for a cut of meat that actually cost 15,000 pesos. To his surprise, the customer still paid the higher amount.
The customer took out the money to pay it all the same, Cabral recounted, illustrating the growing resilience of the population in the face of economic challenges.
In an effort to tackle the dire economic situation, President Javier Milei, a political outsider, has vowed to implement strict austerity measures to curb inflation, reduce the substantial fiscal deficit, and rebuild government reserves. However, Milei cautioned that improvements may take time and the situation could worsen before it gets better. Currently, two-fifths of Argentines already live in poverty.
The burden of rising prices is felt not only in meat but across various everyday items. Nothing is cheap, lamented Graciela Bravo, a 65-year-old retiree who now meticulously counts the number of potatoes she buys. Before you would purchase by the kilo, now I get three potatoes or four potatoes so they don’t spoil.
Alejandro Grossi, a 49-year-old lawyer, has reluctantly become accustomed to the constant price hikes after years of inflation. He explained, I buy fewer things for myself than I would like, you adapt, highlighting the resilience and resourcefulness of the Argentine people in the face of adversity. It’s like we’re used to it, it’s already something so natural here: inflation and changing prices.
Despite the challenging circumstances, there is hope that through the implementation of effective economic policies, Argentina can regain stability and alleviate the burden on its citizens. However, for now, many Argentines continue to tighten their belts, adjusting their daily lives to cope with the relentless rise in prices.
As Argentina faces one of its most severe inflationary periods since the 1990s, the impact on ordinary citizens becomes increasingly evident. Faced with steep grocery bills and soaring prices, traditional social gatherings, such as the beloved barbecue, are becoming unaffordable luxuries for many. The road to economic recovery may be long, but it is essential in order to alleviate the burden on Argentine families striving to make ends meet amidst rapidly rising inflation.
