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[BUSINESS] · Guatemala, Argentina, Mexico · 5 sources

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Part of situation: Economic instability and food insecurity in Latin America (2 clusters)

Economic instability impacts households in Guatemala, Argentina, and Mexico

economic informality household debt food insecurity cash transactions Latin America economy

Economic reports from Guatemala, Argentina, and Mexico highlight significant financial challenges facing households in the region.

In Guatemala, despite digital growth, cash remains the dominant payment method. Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) shows that over 80% of the population uses cash for transactions, rising to 93.8% for purchases under Q200. This trend is supported by a 10.8% annual increase in currency in circulation. A 66% labor informality rate is cited as a contributing factor.

In Argentina, a report by UBA and Movimiento Evita indicates that 70% of households carry active debt. Approximately 72% of these households rely on credit cards or personal loans to cover essential daily costs, such as health and utilities. High levels of informality (66%) often force families toward informal lenders with monthly interest rates between 20% and 30%.

In Mexico, INEGI's 2025 Intercensal Survey reports that 7.2 million households face food insecurity due to financial constraints. This includes 3.8 million households with minors. The survey notes that many families have been forced to reduce meal variety, quantity, or frequency, with some individuals reporting they have gone entire days without eating.

Entities

Banco de Guatemala · INEGI · Instituto Nacional de Estadística · Movimiento Evita · UBA

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The labor informality rate in Guatemala is 66%. ajalmagazine.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Currency in circulation in Guatemala grew approximately 10.8% between July 2025 and July 2026. ajalmagazine.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] In Guatemala, cash is the primary payment method for over 80% of the population. ajalmagazine.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 93.8% of Guatemalans use cash for purchases under Q200. ajalmagazine.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 70% of households in Argentina have active debts. www.infozona.com.ar
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 72% of Argentine households use credit cards or personal loans to cover basic daily expenses. www.infozona.com.ar
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 3.8 million Mexican households with minors experienced food access restrictions. www.xataka.com.mx
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 7.2 million Mexican households reported food insecurity or restricted access to food. www.xataka.com.mx

Sources

Pese al boom digital, El efectivo continúa siendo el medio de pago más utilizado en Guatemala [ajalmagazine.com]
about 14 hours ago
La UCA explica por qué la pobreza subió y le apunta a tarifas, servicios y alquileres [www.elheraldo.com.ar]
about 14 hours ago
¿Cuándo bajan los precios? Las fechas clave de las ofertas de otoño en el súper [www.moncloa.com]
about 8 hours ago
Endeudamiento en los hogares: el 70% pide créditos o usa tarjeta para cubrir gastos básicos [www.infozona.com.ar]
about 14 hours ago
Millones de mexicanos están comiendo menos, saltándose comidas o reduciendo la variedad por falta de dinero [www.xataka.com.mx]
1 day ago