Sales of small and medium-sized businesses recorded a
year-on-year contraction of 0.9% last February at constant prices
, that is, discounting the effect of inflation.
According to a report released this Sunday by the Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME), retail sales of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), measured at constant prices, fell by 0.6% compared to last
January
and they also accumulated a contraction of 0.6% in the first two months of the year.
According to the sector report, sales in February were mainly concentrated in
goods and services related to the tourism sector.
"In addition, in February there was
a strong increase in Food prices
with its maximum exponent in the dynamics of beef, with monthly increases that averaged 25%, which reduced the purchasing power for other products," said the CAME through a statement.
This is how it emerges from the SME Retail Sales Index of the Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME), prepared based on its monthly survey among
1,135 retail businesses
throughout the country, carried out between January 31 and February 3.
In the annual comparison, of the seven items surveyed in February,
Pharmacy (+7.9%), Food and Beverages (+2.6%) and Perfume (+1.7%) grew.
On the other hand,
Textiles and Clothing (-11%), Bazaar, decoration, home textiles and furniture (-3.4%)
, Hardware, electrical materials and construction materials (-1.1%) and footwear and leather goods (-0.8%).
In food in particular, sales in February grew 2.6% year-on-year, but
declined 1% monthly, at real prices.
In the first two months of the year they accumulate an increase of 3.1%.
The most complicated were those who sold fresh products, especially meat and its derivatives, and fruits, which had strong price increases in the month and
businesses could not move the public completely so as not to slow down sales.
“A lot was sold, but it took more hours of work to get a return equal to January.
This is a consequence of the increase in prices and not being able to transfer it proportionally to the sale price," they said from a bakery in the city of Mar del Plata, in the Province of Buenos Aires.
"Inflation hits businesses, prices are increasing all the time,
it sells well, but it earns poorly
," they commented from a store in San Miguel de Tucumán.
The retraction of consumption occurs in a scenario of high inflation which, according to private projections, reached 6.1% in February.
AQ
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