Buenos Aires inflation rises to 1.8% in September

Inflation in the City of Buenos Aires reached 1.8% in September, rising 0.1 percentage points from the 1.7% recorded in August. According to the Buenos Aires statistics institute, Idecba, consumer prices rose 23.7% over the first nine months of the year and 32.9% year-on-year.

Services increased 2.0% in the month, outpacing goods at 1.6%, while seasonal prices climbed 2.3%. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels rose 2.3% in September, reaching a 37.5% annual rate due to higher building maintenance fees and rents. Education climbed 2.9% in the month and 35.4% year-on-year because of tuition increases at formal educational institutions. Healthcare rose 2.2% monthly, or 33.1% year-on-year, driven by private medical plan adjustments, contributing 0.21 percentage points to the headline index.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 2.1% in September and 31.5% year-on-year, contributing 0.37 percentage points to the monthly figure. Within food, vegetables, tubers, and legumes rose 11.3%, dairy products climbed 1.9%, and meat advanced 1.3%. Clothing rose 2.3% during the month, though its 10.5% annual increase remains the lowest among all tracked categories. Other categories rose below the average: transportation increased 1.3%, restaurants and hotels rose 1.1%, recreation and culture climbed 0.9%, and household equipment and maintenance gained 0.3%.

The national statistics agency, Indec, will release its nationwide inflation data on Tuesday, October 13. Private forecasters expect the national figure to reflect a similar pause in deceleration. Consulting firm LCG estimated national September inflation between 1.7% and 1.8%, while think tank Equilibra and consultancy Eco Go each projected 2.0%.