As financial markets paused for the weekend on Saturday, August 22, foreign exchange rates for the Argentine peso held steady at official and informal close levels. The official exchange rate at Banco Nación settled at $1470 for buyers and $1520 for sellers, while the informal parallel market—known locally as the dólar blue—traded at $1503,50 for purchase and $1550 for sale.
The Bottom Line
- Official vs. Parallel Spread: The gap between the Banco Nación retail rate and the parallel market remains.
- Inflation: Official INDEC data shows July inflation marked 2.1%, breaking a three-month streak of deceleration.
Decoding the Weekend Exchange Rates
Because financial institutions are closed on Saturday, August 22, foreign exchange desks rely entirely on the closing figures registered during the final active trading session of the week.
Here is the math on the board: the official retail rate posted by Banco Nación closed at $1470 (buying) and $1520 (selling). Meanwhile, the informal market maintained a slight premium, with the dólar blue changing hands at $1503,50 and $1550, respectively. Parallel financial instruments, including the MEP (or dólar Bolsa) and CCL (contado con liquidación) rates, involve mechanisms to acquire this currency through the sale of bonds and stocks.
The Inflation Pivot: July Data
According to figures released by INDEC (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos), the consumer price index marked 2.1% in July. This figure halted a three-month streak of deceleration.
Core inflation—which does not contemplate seasonal or regulated prices—landed at 1.8%, two tenths above what the agency had surveyed in June. Cumulatively, the price increase reached 19.3% so far this year, pushing the trailing twelve-month increase to 22.8%.
| Metric / Instrument | Rate / Figure | Period / Context |
|---|---|---|
| Banco Nación Official (Buy) | $1470 | Weekend Reference (Aug 22) |
| Banco Nación Official (Sell) | $1520 | Weekend Reference (Aug 22) |
| Dólar Blue (Buy) | $1503,50 | Informal Market Close |
| Dólar Blue (Sell) | $1550 | Informal Market Close |
| July Inflation Index | 2.1% | INDEC Official Report |
| YTD Price Accumulation | 19.3% | Aggregate |
| Trailing 12-Month Inflation | 22.8% | INDEC Metric |
| Core Inflation (July) | 1.8% | Excludes Seasonal & Regulated |
Executing Foreign Exchange Transactions
Following the lifting of currency controls, banks allow this operation through their home banking. It is recommended to make the corresponding inquiry to the banking entity. In case it is allowed, one must take into account that each banking company has defined schedules for this type of operation.
