Chaco supermarkets see shift toward essential goods as consumption falls

In Chaco, Argentina, a decline in consumer purchasing power is significantly altering supermarket shopping habits. Miguel Simons, a representative of the provincial supermarket sector, reports that customers are increasingly prioritizing price over brand loyalty. Shoppers are limiting their purchases to essential items such as pasta, rice, and oil, often opting for the cheapest available option regardless of the manufacturer.

Simons noted that the reduction in consumption is driven by a lack of circulating currency and a decline in industrial production and formal employment. This shift has led to a decrease in the sale of non-essential goods, which are losing shelf space in neighborhood stores.