Argentine consulting firms estimate a 2.2% increase in food and beverage prices over four weeks. After a 2.5% rise in the first week (1.6% monthly), the LCG measurement decreased to 1% for the second week (2.4% monthly). Analytics also obtained a lower measurement than the rest: in the first week, it recorded a 0.6% variation in food and beverages in the Greater Buenos Aires (GBA) area, which would place the monthly average around 2.6%. Despite January's inflation marking the fifth consecutive month of increase, Invecq stated that 'this does not imply that the disinflation process has been left behind,' but rather 'reflects the inertia inherent in the inflationary dynamics, along with the greater incidence of seasonal and regulated components that, after having temporarily contributed to moderate the index in mid-2025, are now exerting upward pressure on the general level.' The firm estimates lower inflation than in January through the Invecq IPC, currently running at a monthly rate of 2.7% and projected to close February at 2.5%, continuing a 'slight deceleration.' 'Disinflation processes are not linear. In particular, the non-alcoholic food and beverages division closed with a 4.7% increase and was the division with the highest rise. According to preliminary reports from various consulting firms, that division's deceleration is noted, although it remains above 2%.' One would have to go back to August 2025 to find a lower increase in food prices (when it marked 1.5%). Although since late 2025 the price increase seems to have stabilized at a somewhat higher level, the trajectory remains strongly conditioned by the dynamics of seasonal and regulated components, something that will likely repeat in the immediate future. For the first half of 2026—covering the first six months of the year—Invecq projected an inflation rate of 2.2%, which will then fall to the 1.5% threshold in the second half, closing the year in the 25% annual zone. January's IPC accelerated and closed at 2.9% Indec: January's inflation was 2.9 percent and accumulated 32.4% in twelve months. Following the resignation of Marco Lavagna as director of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) and the subsequent reversal of the new IPC measurement methodology, inflation in the first month of the year accelerated to 2.9%. The division with the greatest impact on the monthly regional variation was Non-alcoholic Food and Beverages, mainly due to increases in Meats and derivatives and Vegetables, tubers, and legumes. The two divisions that registered the smallest variations in January 2026 were Education (0.6%) and Clothing and footwear (-0.5%). At the category level, Seasonal prices (5.7%) led the increase, followed by Core IPC (2.6%) and Regulated prices (2.4%). From that month on, an upward trend with notable accelerations was consolidated. Different scenarios. For EcoGo, food inflation ranges between 2.6% and 2.8%. In the first week of February, the firm weighed a 2.6% variation in food at home (+0.7), while food consumed outside the home stood at 2.4%, averaging 2.6% for both. Considering the second week of the month, that index accelerated to 2.8%: food at home marked 2.9% (+0.9%) and outside the home 2.1%, balancing a 2.8% inflation for the sector. Food inflation would remain above 2%. Photo: Agencia NA / Damián Dopacio Thus, EcoGo estimates that February's IPC will be around 2.7% and 3%. 'An acceleration in the price of meat was registered, which adds more pressure to the sector at the end of the month,' the firm stated. They added that more increases are expected in the recreation component, linked to the seasonal demand from Carnival holidays, which 'could add additional incidence on the general price level.' Econviews yielded a lower increase, with 0.6% for the second week. Buenos Aires, Feb 17 (NA) -- After the 2.9% figure for January and the reversal on the new measurement of the Consumer Price Index (IPC), the food and beverage sector registered increases again during the first two weeks of February, which would pressure the inflation of the second month of the year, according to various private consulting firms. Amid the controversy over the INDEC's IPC measurement, which was to be weighted considering the 2017 and 2018 consumer baskets, January's inflation marked its fifth consecutive month of increase and accelerated to 2.9%. Among the highlights are the increase in meat (+2.3%) and the decrease in vegetables (-0.5%).
