In Argentina, the Christmas basket became 27% more expensive compared to 2024, however, promotions and discounts continue to dominate consumption habits, according to a report by the consulting firm Focus Market.
The report showed that Christmas decorations registered a 12% year-on-year increase, while the basket's overall increase reached 27%, highlighting that "these are limited variations, with strong differences depending on the type of product and its origin."
Regarding decorations, the highest increases were led by nine-piece nativity scenes (+28%), warm LED light sets (+27%), and green garlands (+18%). The total cost of the eight items measured rose from $377,504 to $423,955.
In the food category, the top increases were for the Spanish nut cake (+47%), fruit-filled panettone (+44%), and soft almond nougat (+38%), while the chocolate chip panettone (+9%), peanut brittle (+7%), and champagne (+1%) were among the least volatile products.
Meanwhile, some products became cheaper compared to last year, such as Christmas wreaths (-17%) and 24-piece ornament sets (-29%).
Regarding payment methods, 61% finance their purchases with a credit card, 16% wait for their year-end bonus (aguinaldo), and 12% use yields from interest-bearing accounts.
Analyzing this behavior, Focus Market's Director, Damián Di Pace, stated that "the consumers' focus on promotions and financing shows a more mature and competitive market."
In line with this, he considered that "commercial strategies that offer attractive discounts and accessible payment plans will be key to boosting sales and leveraging the festive spirit without losing sight of the economic reality."
