Argentina sees lowest household debt in Formosa province amid fiscal surplus debate

Argentina's latest economic data show that Formosa province recorded the smallest median debt for households and firms at 457,000 pesos, while Tierra del Fuego had the highest median debt at 1,126,000 pesos. The minimum wage's real purchasing power continued to drop, falling 39.3% since December 2023 and now sitting below its 2001 level. From January to April 2026 the government reported a primary fiscal surplus of 6.49 trillion pesos, though analysts question its validity because the Treasury allegedly omitted interest liabilities amounting to 17.22 trillion pesos. Industrial output also weakened, with the Manufacturing Production Index declining 2.8% year‑on‑year in April 2026, and several sectors such as machinery, textiles and automotive registering double‑digit drops.