Argentina's Ravier Blames Families for Surge in Household Debt

Presidential spokesperson Adrián Ravier told reporters that the recent rise in loan and credit‑card defaults is largely due to families failing to manage their incomes. He urged citizens to “learn their limits” and warned that “taking a card to the limit and then being squeezed” is a preventable mistake. Ravier framed the increase as a normal side‑effect of an economy that is regaining access to credit, noting that before the recovery there was little delinquency because there was little credit.

Official data show household delinquency climbed from 12.1 % to 12.7 % in one month, with the highest impact on people under 35. Non‑financial lenders reported a 32.2 % delinquency rate. Banks, according to Ravier, have lost credit files after years of low lending and are now offering refinancing at lower rates and longer terms.

A private poll of 1,339 Argentines revealed that 50 % have taken on debt to cover everyday expenses and 49 % have struggled to pay credit‑card bills. Respondents also reported using savings (69 % of women) and turning to virtual wallets or friends for credit. The government highlighted recent salary growth and lower interest rates as factors that should ease repayment pressure.

Separately, rising delinquency in private schools has prompted families to adopt insurance products to protect tuition payments, underscoring the broader financial strain on middle‑class households.