Shortages of basic products at Argentine supermarkets have been reported Friday, particularly of flour, cooking oil, and dry noodles of the most affordable brands. Media coverage has also outlined a sharp increase in the price of eggs.
Inflation in Chile during February climbed 0,3%, well below market expectations, but still 7,8% in the last twelve months, the highest recorded since November 2008. The release was done by the country's stats institute, INE, and was indeed a positive announcement given the private estimates (0,6% and 0,7%) and the fact that inflation was effectively surging, 1,2% in January.
No peace for president Joe Biden absorbed by the Ukraine war, and for US consumers, inflation keeps surging and is expected to peak sometime midyear, before it begins to weaken. An inflation gauge closely monitored by the Federal Reserve effectively jumped 6.1% in January compared with a year ago.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva made the following statement at the virtual meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors:
Despite highly subsidized public rates, a long list of coerced consumer prices, relatively cheap fuel in the current global energy-short environment, the Consumer Price Index in Argentine Patagonia, mainly Tierra del Fuego, reached 3,6% in January, according to the latest report from the official stats office, Indec.
Despite requirements from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that inflation needs to be under control, Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec) Tuesday reported January's figures had reached 3.9% for a 50.7% YoY.
A survey of financial operators in Chile anticipates that the aggressive policy of the country's central bank to combat rising prices will continue to hike interest rates, anticipating the basic rate from the bank's Monetary Policy office will be reaching 8% by next May.
Brazil's Central Bank (BCB) Wednesday increased its benchmark interest rate (Selic) by 1.5 percentage points, reaching 10.75%, the first time in five years it hit double digits, amid a growing inflation and despite the consequences, this measure may have on economic growth.
The Chilean central bank hiked its reference rate from 4% to 5,5% to contain inflation which last year reached 7,2%, the highest in fourteen years. The Monetary Policy council of the bank on Wednesday agreed unanimously to increase the reference rate by 150 base points, according to the official release.
An article published by The Washington Post highlights Argentina's inflationary tradition and suggests US citizens should take a look at the South American country's way of economic life after prices locally rose around 7% in one year.