Sales in Mar del Plata fell 4% year-on-year in February, according to a report prepared by the Department of Social and Economic Studies (DESE) of the Union of Commerce, Industry and Production (UCIP). The data on the summer season in Mar del Plata is stark, and commerce in general is on high alert, as the Argentine News Agency was able to confirm in recent hours. The survey, conducted among stores in various sectors of the city, also showed a 6.1% drop on a monthly basis, consolidating a negative trend for commerce during the summer season. In fact, a 6.4% drop in sales had already been recorded in January, so the business association warned that the 2026 summer season was 'worse than the previous one' for the commercial sector. 'No money': the harsh reality of summer in Mar del Plata. Only 8% said it had improved. Regarding the future, 57.1% believe the situation will remain the same in a year, 25.4% were optimistic and said it would improve, while 17.5% estimate it will worsen. Few investments in Mar del Plata. The report also reflected caution when it came to investing. UCIP President Blas Taladrid explained that many merchants attribute the drop in consumption to the loss of purchasing power. 'Merchants tell us in various ways that the loss of purchasing power is the cause of the drop in consumption, although the phrases we hear most often are simply 'there's no money' and 'people buy only the basics', he noted. How merchants view the economic situation. Rents in Mar del Plata have increased by 200% compared to last year.
