At the gates of a new month, the second of 2023, Clarín anticipates the increases that will hit pockets and that must be taken into account when knowing how much money will be needed in February to cover basic expenses.
Prepaid, fuel, telephony, rates and rentals, the 5 increases
that are coming in the next few days.
The biggest impact on inflation (January will be known in the next few days) will come from the
update of public rates
, which continues with its subsidy removal plan,
fuel and prepaid,
the latter will rise for the first time in the year and with the new quota readjustment plan.
The latest projections see that
inflation for the first month of the year will be around between 5.5 and 6%
, and highlight that the drought impacts vegetables, which rose almost 7%.
According to a study carried out by the consulting firm Focus Market on a basket of basic services, a typical family will need about $320,000 in March to cover the month's expenses, taking into account rent, school, prepaid and rates, among other items.
rentals
As happens every month, tenants whose contracts are one year old since the last update
will have an adjustment close to 85.88%
, according to the calculation of the formula established by the current Rental Law, which is governed by an index prepared by the Bank Central based on the evolution of inflation (which in 2022, climbed to the highest level in three decades) and wages.
If the renewal falls in the middle of next month, that percentage adjustment may be even higher.
To find out how to calculate the increase that the rent will have in February, if the annual adjustment falls in the second month of the year, Clarín Servicios prepared a useful and practical guide.
Gas
The Government agreed with the main oil companies in the country to include fuels in the Fair Prices program and to establish an increase ceiling between December and March.
The maximum allowed for January and February was and will be 4%.
In March, the adjustment will be around 3.8%.
Then, the Government and the companies
will sit down again
to outline the rest of the year.
Fuels have a weight of 4.2% in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
However, its increase also leads to higher logistics costs for companies, since they have to pay more for the transport of their merchandise.
In this sense, the indirect impact is greater.
rates
In January, two public hearings were held to define the increase in rates
for transportation and distribution services, two costs that impact the final price of gas and electricity bills.
In the case of gas, these increases will be applied as of February, but the definition of the exact percentage is still pending.
Electricity bills will go up in February.
It is for the third part of the removal of subsidies that the Ministry of Energy is carrying out.
The increase will fall on households with higher incomes (called N1) and also on those with medium pockets (called N3).
Energy is studying the impact that this reduction will have on bills.
Sources in the sector estimate it between 20% and 30%
, but the final decision will be made by the Executive Power and until now it has not been communicated.
Edenor and Edesur
requested an emergency increase in electricity bills
.
Its managers stated that they have been losing money and need an
immediate increase in bills of between $1,000 and $1,500 a month
to not continue having red in 2023. It was at a "virtual" public hearing held last Monday.
Prepaid
On January 20, the possibility of uploading the form that will allow prepaid medicine users to pay less monthly fee expired.
As of February, as established by the Superintendency of Health Services,
the increases in quotas will have a cap for those with a net income of less than six
minimum wages, that is, $392,562 with the January salary.
Month by month, those interested in retaining the discount must complete a procedure that will be enabled until the 20th of each month.
Taking the Ripte calculated at the end of December as a reference, the increase to apply for prepaid
will be 4.91% in February
for those who are enabled.
Holders who exceed said limit will have
an increase of 8.21%
next month .
Telephony
At the beginning of January, the Government modified
the way in which the next increases in
pay television, telephone and internet services will be applied.
Mobile Communications Services (SCM) licensees may apply
from February 1 a new increase of up to 4%
on the same prices, taking the updated values as a reference.
From March 1, the rise will be up to 3.5%, while from April 1 that increase will be repeated.
The companies providing these services already increased by 4% in January.
NS
look too
Another removal of subsidies is coming and the electricity bills will go up in February
Inflation: alternative dollars accelerate and jeopardize official strategy