Argentina's supermarket sales dip as shoppers trim non‑essential purchases

Supermarket sales in Argentina fell 0.7% year‑on‑year in May, marking the fifth consecutive month of negative growth and bringing total turnover to about $2.5 trillion, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC). The decline was strongest in discretionary categories such as alcoholic and non‑alcoholic beverages, electronics, home‑goods and prepared foods, while essential items like staple foods and hygiene products held up better.

At the same time, Argentine consumers are still weighing cross‑border purchases of electronics because price gaps remain large. An iPhone 17 Pro Max costs roughly 43% more in Argentina than in Chile, and an 85‑inch LG Nano Cell TV is about 159% pricier. Other products, such as the Nintendo Switch OLED and various tablets, show similar disparities. Analysts note that the current exchange‑rate regime and recent changes to foreign‑purchase rules keep foreign shopping attractive for many Argentines seeking cheaper technology.