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AMBA Households Need $213,557 for March Services as Transport Leads Tariff Spike

Transport fare hikes under a reworked subsidy scheme pushed March service costs well above inflation.

Overview

  • The services basket rose 11.4% from February and 46% year over year, with regulated tariffs up 591% since December 2023 versus 203% general inflation, according to the IIEP (UBA‑CONICET).
  • Transport remains the largest component at about $101,026 for the month—roughly 47% of the total—after a 14.8% increase, with the technical cost of a trip estimated at $1,811, still above current fares.
  • Average monthly bills for unsubsidized users were about $49,462 for electricity (+3.2%), $28,025 for natural gas (+14%), and $35,045 for water (+12.6%).
  • Households now cover about 65% of the real cost of services while the State finances the remaining 35%, a balance that jumped roughly 13 points between January and February and held steady in March.
  • The basket equaled 12.3% of the average registered salary in March, based on an estimated monthly wage of $1,741,460, underscoring the growing strain on purchasing power.