Overview
- The IPCVA survey reported a 10.6% monthly rise in March and a 68.6% annual increase, roughly double Indec’s 33.1% inflation rate.
- Prices rose faster in butcher shops than in supermarkets, with a 12.2% climb versus 7.1%, and ground beef led with a 20.4% spike.
- Chicken prices rose 10.9% and pork belly 6.3% in March, yet one kilo of asado now buys about 3.9 kilos of chicken, pushing many households toward cheaper proteins as beef consumption hits long‑term lows.
- Exporter group ABC said cattle slaughter fell 7.6% year over year in the first quarter to 2.97 million head, after a March rebound to 1.029 million head from February.
- Analysts link the surge to cost pass‑through and a sharp rise in live‑cattle values at the Cañuelas market, noting that near‑term prices depend on how much stock producers release and on exporters’ commitments.