Nafta, buses, trains, domestic workers, prepaid, electricity rates, private schools, rentals and taxis,
March arrives with at least 9 increases already scheduled
that will affect inflation which, although showing signs of slowing down, is still shown in the two digits.
Specifically, the rise in fuel and bus prices is what generates the most concern, and that is reflected in Google searches.
Catamarca and Chubut are the provinces in which these concepts have raised the greatest interest in recent hours.
CABA, Buenos Aires, and Córdoba, those that follow.
The third month of the year is always complicated in economic matters, it is for many the true beginning of the year, and with the plan to deregulate the economy that the Government is carrying out, that pressure seems to be accentuated even more.
Days ago, even Javier Milei himself warned that the March/April combo "
are going to be the worst months,"
and then begin a recovery process.
In terms of increases, the ones that put the most pressure and complications
are fuels
.
This Monday, the national government confirmed the increase in gasoline, which will rise 4.4% from Friday, March 1, and another seven increases will impact Argentine pockets and will keep next month's CPI in double digits.
From EcoGo, they told Clarín that, with the latest weekly price survey, "the estimate for February inflation is 15.9%."
Along these lines, for "March we believe it will be slightly above, in the 16/17% area," explains Lucio Garay Méndez, analyst at the consulting firm.
Video
What increases are expected for the third month of the year.
"In February, strong increases in regulated goods and transportation began
in the first days of the month and electricity also came in. Food and beverages,
which had slowed down sharply, now the weekly increases seem stable at weekly increases of approximately 2%," indicates the economist.
And he adds: "For March, a new wave of regulated arrivals arrives, gas has a strong weight in the CPI basket and we do not rule out a new increase in transportation."
It is worth remembering that, in January,
inflation was 20.6%,
high, but lower than the 25.5% in December.
Now for February, a CPI is expected in a range of between 15 and 18% (which would mark a slowdown, although not substantial), and a March that could be even lower.
"It is still a double-digit monthly inflation, and if it is not higher, it is because demand is hit and the Government is carrying out a strong contractionary monetary and fiscal policy," added the EcoGo economist.
One by one, the 9 increases planned for March
Gasoline
Fuels increase 4.4%.
Long lines have already begun to be seen at service stations to take advantage of refueling hours before the 4.4% increase expected from Friday, March 1.
The Milei government will apply, in the next few hours, the second partial increase in taxes on liquid fuel (ICL) and carbon dioxide (IDC),
items that will impact the price of a liter of gasoline and diesel
.
In this way, adjustments of between 4.4% and 2.7%, respectively, are expected.
Thus, a liter of super gasoline is expected to rise to $32.63 above the current values and $21.12 for diesel.
Collectives
Tickets for buses and trains that circulate in the AMBA will increase by 6% starting March 1, based on a new fare table updated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by Indec.
In this way, the minimum ticket will have a value of $37.10 if the route is up to 3 kilometers.
Other tickets will cost $41.34 for a distance between 3 and 6 kilometers;
$44.52 between 6 and 12 kilometers;
$47.70 pesos between 12 and 27 kilometers;
and $50.88 if the route exceeds 27 kilometers.
long distance trains
In the third month of the year, there will be new reference values for long-distance trains, whether interurban regional and interjurisdictional: Buenos Aires-Mar del Plata, $4,493;
Bs As-Pinamar;
$3896. Buenos Aires-Bahía Blanca, $7691;
Bs As-Córdoba, from $7900.
New values for long-distance trains.
Photo Juano Tesone - FTP CLARIN JUA02130.JPG Z JTesone
The increase was reflected days ago in the Official Gazette, in Resolution 14/2024, signed by the Ministry of Transportation of the Nation.
These increases will be up to 70%
and will take effect starting March 1.
AMBA private schools
In the province the increase in private schools will be 50%, and in CABA 40%.
Photo: Guillermo Rodríguez Adami - FTP CLARIN
In the month that begins the school year, the item will be one that exerts the most pressure on pockets. In addition to the exorbitant increases in uniforms and the basket of products for back to school, another adjustment will also be added to student
fees. private schools in CABA and the province of Buenos Aires.
In Buenos Aires schools,
fees will have an increase of up to 50% in the fees
for the third month of the year;
In the City, the estimate will be an average increase of 40%.
Prepaid
Prepaid: increase of 23% average over the February value.
Photo Courtesy
Prepaid accounts will experience
an average increase of 23%
over the February value in March.
This will be
the third consecutive increase so far this year.
In this way, so far in 2024, prepaid users have received an increase in tariffs
of 30% in January and 26% in February
.
Electricity rates
Electricity bills will arrive in March with increases of up to 150%.
Photo: ENRE.
With the new month,
electricity bills will arrive with an increase of up to 150%.
According to Energy, the rate segmentation that contemplates three universes of users will continue to be in force, but determined by the Total Basic Basket (CBT): high, medium and low income.
In the case of high-income users, they no longer receive subsidies and pay the full cost of the supply.
Tier 1 rates (that is, the highest incomes) will go from $13,900 to $34,332, which means an increase of 150%.
And for level 2 (low income) the rate will be around $7,500, which represents an increase of 70%.
For those in level 3 (middle income), the estimated increase will be around 65%.
Domestic workers
How much does the hour and month go for the employees of Casas Particulares in March.
Photo: Lucía Merle
The Work Commission in Private Homes closed the first increase of the year for domestic employees who will receive a raise divided into two installments:
20% in February and another 15% in March cumulatively
.
The union of Casas Particulares employees managed to make the increase this time cumulative, which means that the real increase, instead of the planned 35%, will end up being 38%.
It is the first increase of the year
: the previous increase had been
34% in September 2023
and was paid in three installments.
With this percentage, last year private workers accumulated a 154% salary increase against an inflation of 211.4%.
Rentals
Rents on the rise.
Photo: Federico Lopez Claro - FTP CLARIN
Although Javier Milei has already repealed the Rental Law, current contracts must be fulfilled until their expiration.
This means that those who rented under the previous law will have to face increases of 165.5% annually.
Consequently, all housing rentals that have formally begun
between July 2020 and October 17, 2023
continue to be governed by law 27,551.
The March increase will mark a new record since
it will exceed the 147.1%
applied in February and the 137.5% in January.
Taxi
How much do taxis increase?
Photo Luciano Thieberger.
In March, the rate of Buenos Aires taxis will suffer a new increase in the value of their token.
The second increase agreed by the Buenos Aires government
will be 30%.
In this way, the value of the token during the day will go to $85.40 and that of the flag drop - which has a price equivalent to ten tokens - to $854. For the night, the costs will be $102 .50 and $1025.
S.N.