In February, the increase in food prices had the highest impact on inflation in six years

The rise in the price of food has had a strong impact on inflation for some time.

But last month in particular they had 

Consumer Price Index high

This is indicated by the calculations of the consultancy Ecolatina, which forecasts a rise in general inflation of

 Within this variation, the increase in the food and beverages chapter, of 10.6%, 

 the last six years.

INDEC will report the official data on March 14.

The importance of the increase in food was such, they say in Ecolatina, that

"As we expected, the increase was driven mainly by the jump in bovine

(

in the monthly variation), which responded to the increase in the price of live cattle, more associated with domestic consumption, which was 50% since the second half of January.

In this way,

The increases in

which remain at high levels as a result of a lower supply due to the drought, also stood out, the consultant said in its latest report.

On the other hand, the value of the rest of the products -mostly the packaged ones- included in the "Fair Prices" program remained relatively more contained (it registered 4.1% for the third consecutive month, 2.1 points below the average for the September quarter -November, prior to the agreement).

Drag for March

Also for the consultancy EcoGo, which forecasts inflation of

, the greatest impact came from

and left a drag for March of 2.4 points.

In the analysis within the category, in products consumed outside the home (in restaurants or deliveries) the increase was even greater: it averaged 8.4%.

Regarding meat, both rear and front cuts were the ones with the highest increases in the month, with 22% and 18.9%, respectively.

This implies

According to EcoGo, fruits and vegetables have also been adding volatility to the index, among the first, with an average increase of.

7.2%, the increases in citrus affected by the drought stood out.

Meanwhile, vegetables increased 8.1% and

also contributed to the rise in the index: they increased 7.8%, driven by soft drinks and alcoholic drinks.

Eco Go analysts highlight that "

, in a context where without a comprehensive plan and with increases in the price of meats -which seek to recover after containing the indicator during 2022-, inflation It doesn't let up."

Going forward, according to Ecolatina, there will be no shortage of factors that will continue to put pressure on food prices.

Among them,

on some fresh foods and the margin for a greater transfer to the consumer of the adjustment in the prices of beef cattle.

According to the same consultant, "although Fair Prices can contribute to moderating increases in some sectors, helping to moderate inertia at the margin,

The first is that

but not to small self-service stores or local businesses, where households in the lowest income deciles consume to a greater extent.

Secondly, it is made up mainly of

and the possibility of reaching a broad and robust agreement for fresh food (fruits, vegetables, beef) lies in the

distributed throughout the country, the high rate of informality present in some links and the impact on prices of factors associated with seasonality, biological cycles and/or inclement weather.

Finally, the third weakness that EcoGo de los Precios Justos highlights is the

which will make it difficult to comply with the part that is up to the Government: guarantee greater access to the exchange market, for which the risks of some agreements breaking down They are not minor, he stressed.

NE

look also

Pork market, all up: the capon, the cost of feed and consumer prices rose

New discount in butcher shops: how to recover up to $3,000 per purchase