In February 2026, the negative perception of the country's situation rose to 40%, while the positive evaluation fell to 19%, according to a private study. The indicators point out that poverty is the main problem for 27% of citizens, followed by lack of work with 19%. Over the last year, 74% of those surveyed stated that they had to cut expenses to make ends meet, and 51% affirmed they have no savings capacity. The deterioration in consumption and the rise in public services costs have shifted public concern from fiscal targets to daily economy. 32% of Argentines say their incomes are not enough to cover basic needs such as food, housing, and health. Additionally, 54% of the population believes the government is not controlling inflation, despite the official discourse. The data corresponds to the QMonitor report by the QSocial consultancy, prepared based on 1,645 cases and received by the Argentine News Agency. The study states that the current panorama marks a turning point where there is a 'displacement of attention from fiscal balance targets to the tangible effects of the adjustment in the real economy'. According to the report, the adjustment has become a disputed concept between 'the need for economic order and the fear of social abandonment'. The labor market shows signs of crisis with the loss of 242,000 jobs registered in the last quarter. The closure of emblematic industrial companies, such as the tire factory FATE, is perceived by society as a consequence of the opening of imports and the fall in domestic demand. This situation generates a climate of resistance where public opinion links labor reform with a 'cheap way out for companies in crisis' rather than job creation. In the digital ecosystem, the dominant sentiment is anger and indignation. In the debate over labor reform, 39% of interactions on social networks express these negative emotions. In discussions about price increases and the importer opening, indignation rises to 51%, associated with a perception of 'inequality or social disconnection' on the part of the authorities. The report concludes that there is a growing risk to the 'limit of social peace' if the adjustment continues to erode employment and purchasing power.
