started · updated
Argentina economic data shows rising poverty and living costs
Economic indicators in Argentina show a significant rise in poverty and cost of living. Private estimates from consultancies like ExQuanti, the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, and the Universidad Católica Argentina suggest that poverty increased during the first half of 2026, potentially affecting 15.1 million people. This marks a reversal of a downward trend observed in previous periods.
Official data from INDEC for August 2026 highlights the widening gap between minimum wages and essential costs. A family of four required $1,605,497 to avoid poverty and $726,469 to avoid indigence, figures that significantly exceed the government-set minimum wage. Additionally, the cost of raising a child (Canasta de Crianza) reached up to $713,070 per month for children aged 6 to 12, factoring in both goods, services, and the economic value of caregiving time.
Other economic shifts include a decline in beef consumption, which hit its lowest level since 2005 due to rising prices and decreased purchasing power.
Entities
Argentina · ExQuanti · INDEC · Universidad Católica Argentina · Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [DISPUTED] Argentina added approximately 2.9 million people to the poverty statistics between October 2025 and June 2026. www.planbnoticias.com.ar · labandadiario.com · www.tiemposur.com.ar · chacosintesis.com.ar · lapioneradeclorinda.com · +1 more
- [DISPUTED] Poverty increased by an estimated 1.7 million people during the first half of the year. www.planbnoticias.com.ar · labandadiario.com · www.tiemposur.com.ar · chacosintesis.com.ar · lapioneradeclorinda.com · +4 more
- [DISPUTED] The number of people living in poverty in Argentina is estimated to reach 15.1 million in the first half of the year. www.planbnoticias.com.ar · labandadiario.com · www.tiemposur.com.ar · chacosintesis.com.ar · lapioneradeclorinda.com · +4 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Universidad Torcuato Di Tella projected a poverty rate of 31.6% for the first half of 2026. labandadiario.com · www.tiemposur.com.ar · chacosintesis.com.ar · lapioneradeclorinda.com · diariondi.com
- [DISPUTED] The number of people in poverty reached an estimated 15.8 million during the second quarter of 2026. pilardetodos.com.ar · elojoenlinea.com.ar · cdnoticias.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The UCA Observatorio de la Deuda Social Argentina projects a poverty rate between 31% and 32% for the first half of 2026. diariopampero.com · lapioneradeclorinda.com