The prices of food and beverages experienced an increase of 10.1% during the month of April, accumulating an increase of 41.2% so far this year.

This represents a difference of 9.2 percentage points above the general inflation average, which reached 32% in the first four months of the year.

In the course of January to April, food inflation has been increasing progressively and its pace has intensified in recent months. In fact, in each of the last three months, the food price index has exceeded 9%.

If this rate is maintained, the projection of inflation in food is estimated at 200% per year, according to the Center of Studies for the Argentine Recovery of the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the UBA.

During April, the most significant increases were registered in the categories of vegetables, tubers and legumes; milk, milk products and eggs; sugar, sweets, chocolates and sweets; and meat and derivatives, according to data provided by INDEC.

At the regional level, the increase in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages has had a notable impact in all geographic regions.

In the last twelve months, food has experienced an increase of 115%, exceeding the general consumer price index by more than 6 percentage points, which registers a year-on-year increase of 108.8%.

This problem especially affects low-income households, since they do not have sufficient resources to face price increases, since they allocate most of their income to cover basic needs, according to a study carried out by the UBA.

During this month, there have been significant increases in basic necessities and essential elements in the basic diet, such as eggs, chicken, tomato, lettuce, sugar, butter, oranges, rice, sweet cookies and cheeses.

The impact of the bird flu has been reflected in the price of whole chicken, which has experienced an increase of 26.4% compared to the previous month. In addition, fresh eggs per dozen have increased by 20.8% in the month of April alone.

Regarding the basic basket, the product that has experienced the greatest increase this month has been the round tomato per kilo, with an increase of 63.4%. It is followed by lettuce with an increase of 8.9%. In relation to fruits, orange leads the increases with an increase of 19.8%.

Other frequently used basket staples have also experienced significant increases. Sugar, as an essential element, has increased by 21.1%, butter by 12.2%, and cream cheeses and pategras by 10.8% and 10.1%, respectively.