Companies from the mass consumption industry are analyzing with concern the extension of the Fair Prices program.
And they take accounts.
Not only because of the basket of almost 2,000 products that will be frozen until the end of June (that is, for 5 months), but also
because of the 3.2% monthly increase for all the rest with projected inflation that is much higher
.
"Although the pattern is not linear,
the proposal seems quite impracticable
," a source in the sector reasoned aloud.
Food companies, beverage manufacturers and suppliers argue that the rise in costs complicates profitability in many products, if general prices remain above 5% per month.
"It is very difficult to work without profit or at a loss. In this context, the only thing that can be done is to sell as little as possible. Still, for now there is no shortage and the companies have been complying," they say.
Fair Prices "is the mechanism that the Government chose to anchor expectations, which depend on macro and micro factors. Now,
inflation is not a merely technical resource that is resolved by stepping on prices
, but by operating on public spending and on genuine generation All of this is on the agenda and we are working to achieve stability goals, which do not exist today,"
Daniel Funes de Rioja, head of the UIA and Copal, who represents food producers , told
Clarín .
The economic team headed by Sergio Massa aspires to contain inflation with the expanded version of Fair Prices.
The program, led by the Secretary of Commerce, Matías Tombolini, seeks to establish a "price path" for 49,832 items of more than 15 items (mass consumption, textiles, footwear, cell phones, electronics, laboratories and even private schools, among others). in agreement with 532 companies.
All in exchange for delivering "cheap" dollars to import.
This Wednesday, a list of 1,974 basic items (food, drinks, toiletries and cleaning) was finally released, which will have fixed prices until the middle of the year.
65% of that total had already been frozen since November.
For this reason and for these cases,
Tombolini authorized "exceptional" increases of between 4 and 9% to compensate for the delay in prices
.
This was the commitment signed with 108 manufacturers and suppliers.
In that core, today, you have broader concerns and fears.
"The basket is a smaller volume, because each company contributes a small number of products.
The problem is the 3.2% ceiling for all the rest
," said a source from the sector and explained that it is not only because of the inflationary rise in The last weeks.
"
Interest rates, the devaluation of the official dollar and parity rates are also worrying
. Not to mention the rise in some inputs and raw materials," they lament.
Complaints are piling up and
some companies brought Tombolini some alternative proposals to improve the situation
.
One of them consists of releasing the prices (outside the 3.2% guideline) of products that are not basic necessities and premium brands to compensate for the loss of margins in the rest of the catalogue.
They say that the Secretary of Commerce rejected it, but "not emphatically."
Some are excited about the possibility of retaking it "in the future."
The companies agree that the scenario is complex, but for now it is limited.
It happens that Fair Prices and controls are concentrated exclusively in large supermarket chains, which represent 31% of sales of basic items.
"It depends on each company, but you can work with negative or low profitability in some products,
but you feel inflation in the Chinese or in the stores
," he said.
He thus alluded to the price gap that exists in supermarkets and local shops, a universe where controls do not reach.
look also
Increases of up to 9% are authorized in the new Fair Prices basket
look also
Fair Prices: doubts and confusion with the agreement, the lists and the price gap