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Argentina SME retail sales fall during Children's Day
Retail sales for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Argentina fell by 2.5% during the Children's Day 2026 celebrations compared to the previous year, when adjusted for inflation. According to a report by the Confederation Argentina de la Mediana Empresa (CAME), the average ticket reached $45,892, representing a real increase of only 0.8% after accounting for inflation. This figure fell significantly short of the $57,500 projected by the consultancy Focus Market.
Despite aggressive commercial strategies, including discounts and installment plans, consumer demand remained selective and cautious. Approximately 81.2% of businesses implemented promotions, with 55.3% offering credit card financing and 46.2% providing cash discounts. However, CAME noted that demand was often postponed until the last minute and shifted toward lower-value products.
All evaluated sectors experienced declines. Toy stores saw the largest drop at 4.8%, followed by clothing and accessories at 4.1%, footwear and leather goods at 3.1%, bookstores at 1.8%, and electronics/audio equipment at 1%. The results indicate a continued trend of stagnant consumption and limited purchasing power among households.
Entities
Argentina · CAME · Confederación Argentina de la Mediana Empresa · Focus Market
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Retail sales for Children's Day fell 2.5% year-on-year at constant prices. www.lagaceta.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · www.filo.news
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Toy stores and clothing/accessory retailers were among the hardest hit sectors.
- [● 4 SOURCES] 55.3% of businesses offered credit card financing. www.lagaceta.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · www.filo.news
- [● 4 SOURCES] 81.2% of surveyed businesses implemented promotional actions. www.lagaceta.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · www.filo.news
- [● 4 SOURCES] The average spend per transaction was $45,892, representing a real increase of 0.8% after adjusting for inflation. www.lagaceta.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · www.filo.news
- [● 3 SOURCES] Only 14.7% of merchants achieved sales results better than expected. www.lagaceta.com.ar · www.filo.news
- [● 4 SOURCES] 46.2% of businesses offered cash discounts. www.lagaceta.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · www.filo.news
- [● 4 SOURCES] 41.7% of merchants reported sales results below their expectations. www.lagaceta.com.ar · diariosanrafael.com.ar · www.filo.news