A report based on the Consumer Price Index detailed the products that had the most increases and, failing that, those that had the least.
Tomás Modini
@ModiniTomas
In a year that was marked by a slowdown in prices, the food basket registered an increase lower than the average of general inflation, which contributed in part to the improvement in the purchasing power of wages.
According to a Coninagro report based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), food showed a year-on-year increase of 94.7 percent, falling below the 117.8 percent recorded in the general price level.
Foods with the lowest increases
Among the products that registered the most moderate increases, sugar stands out, which had an annual variation of -60.6 percent, reflecting a relative decrease in its price. The same happened with oranges, as their price fell by -39.9 in real terms.
Plain white rice showed a variation of -35.4 percent, round tomatoes had a decrease of -32.8 and potatoes showed a decrease of -32.8 percent.
Other products that also stood out for their moderate increase were yerba mate (-26.4) and common wheat flour 000 (-23.3).
Foods with the greatest increases
In contrast, some food products outperformed general inflation. The most notable were cream cheese, which led the list of increases with an increase of 11.3 percent above inflation; whole fresh milk in sachets, which had an interannual variation of 8.7 and lemon, which completed the podium with an increase of 3.4.
Roasted meat and sunflower oil were also mentioned among the foods with significant increases, although with a lesser magnitude compared to the previous ones.
Impact on consumers
The Coninagro report also highlighted that the lower inflation in food represented a relief for households, since this group of goods occupies a significant portion of family spending. Products such as sugar, oranges and rice became more accessible options that particularly benefited the lower-income sectors. In addition, the stability in the prices of some goods favored greater planning of monthly spending.
This relative decrease in prices also had a positive impact on regional economies, by stimulating internal demand for certain products. In a complex economic context, these indicators suggest a slight improvement in the quality of life, although challenges related to the equitable distribution of benefits among the different sectors of the population persist.
Outlook for the beginning of 2025
Price behavior in the first part of January showed moderate stability, with weekly variations around 0.5 percent. Private consulting firms anticipate a monthly inflation for food of 2 percent, which would consolidate the deceleration trend observed in 2024.
This phenomenon could be consolidated if government policies aimed at moderating the impact of external factors, such as exchange rate volatility and the cost of inputs, are maintained.
In addition, the improvement in real wages is expected to continue to contribute to stabilizing demand, encouraging both local consumption and production. However, analysts warn that, to ensure prolonged stability, it will be key to deepen measures that promote greater competitiveness in the food sector and efficient distribution of products.
Thus, the beginning of 2025 could mark a continuation of the improvement observed in food prices, as long as macroeconomic conditions support this expected scenario in the country.
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