Inflation rose to 2.4% in February and accumulated 66.9% in twelve months
Prices rose above January's 2.2%. The increases in tariffs and food and beverages were the ones that had the most impact.
The cost of living was 2.4% in February, up from 2.2% in January, and in twelve months they accumulated a 66.9% increase.
The division with the highest increase in the month was Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (3.7%), due to increases in Housing rent and related expenses and Electricity, gas and other fuels.
It was followed by Food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.2%), mainly due to increases in Meat and derivatives.
The division that registered the highest incidence in all regions was Food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.2%), due to the increases in Meat and derivatives.
Thus, the great driver for the acceleration of the consumer price index (CPI) was the meat item.
The two divisions that registered the lowest variations in February 2025 were Household Equipment and Maintenance (1.0%) and Clothing and Footwear (0.4%).
At the category level, core CPI (2.9%) led the increase, followed by Regulated (2.3%), while Seasonal prices registered a decrease of 0.8%.
INDEC detailed the monthly variations in each region of Argentina.
Patagonia was the one that registered the highest number: 3.2%.
Cuyo (2.7%), Northwest (2.6%) and the Pampas Region (2.5%) were also above the national total.
Below that level were Greater Buenos Aires (2.2%) and the Northeast (1.9%).
The nationwide data is known two days after February inflation in the City registered a sharp drop. It was 2.1%.
In that case, the decline was largely explained by a seasonal factor, the 4.8% drop in tourism-related services, and despite the sharp increase in meat prices.
Thus, it accumulates in the first two months of the year a rise of 5.3% and a year-on-year trajectory of 79.4%, according to the Buenos Aires Institute of Statistics and Censuses.
The BCRA's latest Market Expectations Survey (REM) had forecast retail inflation of 2.3% in February and 2.2% in March.
The report published every month by the Central Bank, which in this case compiled the forecasts of 39 Argentine and foreign consultants, thus broke a trend of downward projections that began with the administration of Javier Milei.
For the first time during the current government, the REM registered a projection of higher inflation for the immediate future.
Desperate search for Liam Gael Flores Soraire, a 3-year-old boy who disappeared in Ballesteros Sud
Authorities and community mobilized to find the minor, whose whereabouts have been unknown since Saturday.
Ballesteros Sud, Córdoba – The disappearance of Liam Gael Flores Soraire, a 3-year-old boy, has shocked the town of Ballesteros Sud. Since Saturday, February 22, the authorities and neighbors have been working tirelessly to find him. The minor was last seen in a rural property where he lives with his family, on the outskirts of the town.
What is known so far?
Liam lives in a rural area inhabited by several families of Bolivian origin who work in a brick cutter. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF), the boy was last seen on Saturday afternoon, dressed in blue shorts, barefoot and bare-chested. She is approximately 90 centimeters tall, has a brown complexion and short black hair.
The authorities do not rule out any hypothesis and are working on multiple lines of investigation to clarify what happened. Prosecutor Isabel Reyna, in charge of the case, has requested the collaboration of the community to find the minor.
Intensified search operation
The operation to find Liam's whereabouts includes a wide deployment of security forces and technological resources. Bell Ville Volunteer Firefighters, members of the Union Department, agents of the Department of High Risk Units (Duar) and the Rural Patrol participate. In addition, 57 firefighters from regional 2 have joined, who carry out rakes in mountain areas, open fields, irrigation canals and rural roads.
To expand the search in hard-to-reach areas, authorities are using drones and sniffer dogs. Security Minister Juan Pablo Quinteros and Deputy Police Chief Antonio Urquiza personally oversee the operations.
How to collaborate
Authorities are urgently calling on the community to provide any information that may help locate Liam. The data can be communicated through the following channels:
The dissemination of information is crucial. Any detail, no matter how small it may seem, could be key to finding the child.
Two major U.S. investment banks, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America, published reports on Argentina's macroeconomic scenario and its outlook for the financial market in 2025. Both agreed on the importance of the country reaching a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to advance in a gradual process of eliminating the exchange rate clamp.
Morgan Stanley Outlook
The Morgan Stanley report warned that Argentina' s current account showed signs of deterioration in the second half of 2024. However, he noted that a surplus in the financial account could make up for this shortfall. The IMF projected an initial disbursement of USD 5 billion by the IMF in 2025, as part of a program that could reach USD 20 billion, subject to compliance with fiscal and monetary conditions.
According to the analysis, the elimination of exchange restrictions will be progressive and will depend on the accumulation of international reserves. Morgan Stanley estimated that Argentina's central bank (BCRA) could increase its net reserves by USD 7 billion during the year, which would provide room for further flexibility in foreign exchange market access.
Bank of America Analysis
For its part, Bank of America highlighted that the Argentine government's fiscal adjustment strategy made it possible to reduce country risk and improve access to external financing. The bank agreed with the expectation of an agreement with the IMF in the first half of 2025, specifically before April. In addition, it projected that initial disbursements could range between USD 5,000 and USD 10,000 million, which would strengthen the BCRA's position.
Accumulation of reserves and exit strategy from the clamps
Morgan Stanley analyzed in detail the relationship between exchange rate policy and reserve accumulation. According to its projections, the country's financial account could generate a surplus of USD 9,800 million in 2025, driven by disbursements from multilateral organizations, corporate financing and purchases of foreign currency by the private sector.
In this scenario, the exit from the exchange clamp would take place in a staggered manner. The entity projected that the Government would advance in the normalization of the payment of imports and in the flexibility of access to the financial dollar. However, it would maintain restrictions on the purchase of foreign currency by individuals and companies until reserves reach an adequate level.
Agreement with the IMF and access to international credit
Bank of America stressed that the success of the economic program underway will depend on the government's ability to negotiate a new agreement with the IMF. This agreement would allow debt payments to be refinanced and fiscal sustainability to be improved.
Morgan Stanley also emphasized that the relationship with the IMF is decisive for the evolution of country risk. If the government manages to advance in a new program with credible fiscal and monetary targets, sovereign bonds could continue their upward trend, improving financing conditions.
However, the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, referred to the market speculation about the agreement with the IMF. On his X account (formerly Twitter), he ironized: "Nothing that is being said about the agreement with the Fund is correct. It's hard to miss everything, but they're succeeding!".
Risks and challenges for the economic program
Both banks identified several risks that could affect Argentina's economic and financial stability in 2025. Among the main factors of uncertainty were:
Voracious fire in Epuyén (Chubut).
A fierce forest fire in Epuyén, where hundreds of people had to be evacuated and several houses were destroyed. High temperatures and wind gusts of up to 70 km/h made containment work difficult.
The evacuation of hundreds of people and the destruction of several homes. High temperatures and strong winds have hampered firefighters' efforts to contain the fire. Among the evacuees is Mayor José Contreras, who also had to leave his home due to the advance of the fire.
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