Argentine opposition lawmakers reported Tuesday that the inflation rate reached 1.5% in May, according to the estimates provided by eight censored economic consultants. They added it was their duty to inform about data which “the government tries to hide from public opinion”.
Inflation in Argentina advanced 0.7% in February over the previous month pushed mainly by increases in the clothing sector (2.2%) and leisure activities (3.5%), according to the official Indec National Statistics Bureau. During the first two months of the year, the consumer prices index accumulated 1.5%.
Uruguay’s cabinet meeting spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that Argentina had “liberated” 75% of the import licences that remained delayed and which was one of the main points of the agenda in the recent summit between Uruguayan president Jose Mujica and Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
Brazil is seriously considering retaliation against Argentina for new rules restricting food imports which allegedly compete directly with Argentine production. EU ambassadors in Buenos Aires made a similar presentation before the Argentine congress earlier this week.
While the Argentine government remained silent, European Union country ambassadors showed up at the Argentine Congress Thursday in order to protest against food import restrictions. The ambassadors, however, saved their criticisms and instead spoke in a conciliatory tone before the Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee, although they did not hide their “growing worry.”