Argentina's National Institute for Statistics and Census (Indec) Thursday announced that inflation for the month of April of 2022 had reached 6% for a total of 58% in the last 12 months, which turned out to be the country's highest figure in 30 years.
The weekly survey of market expectations, REM, from the Central Bank anticipates a worsening of the inflation situation in Argentina, which once the April index is officially made public this week could represent 65% for the twelve months of 2022.
Argentina's Central Bank (BCRA) has adjusted the basic interest rate by 250 basis points to 47% per annum in nominal terms in a move to counter the effects of rampant inflation.
Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero is on a diplomatic mission to Washington DC where he is to hold meetings with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a move aimed at gathering some support ahead of new negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Foreign trade has meant around US $ 15 billion for Argentina's Central Bank (BCRA) in 2021, according to projections reported Monday in Buenos Aires. It became the fifth best surplus so far in the 21st century, despite November's US $ 117 million deficit, the first setback since 2018.
Argentina's Central Bank (BCRA) Thursday ruled that international travel tickets and other tourism items purchased through credit cards and whose values are expressed in US dollars or any other foreign currency but converted to Argentine pesos on the date of the operation cannot be split into monthly payments.
Argentine Economy Minister desperately needs to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week, because the Central Bank (BCRA) has only US $ 800 million left in cash with which to intervene in the local exchange market, which is pressing for a devaluation.
Argentina's Central Bank (BCRA) Thursday ordered banking institutions nationwide not to increase their holdings in foreign currency until the end of the month, amid a market pressure on the exchange rate.
As borders are about to reopen and tourists are expected to pour in, Argentine authorities have devised a mechanism whereby foreigners may exchange currency (US dollars) at a rate closer to the unofficial (“blue”) one.
Following several currency swaps by which China has helped to support the Argentine central bank depleted international reserves, the administration of president Alberto Fernandez intensified relations with Beijing and a year ago allowed transactions between the two countries to be made in Yuan.