Are The Price Increases Affecting You?

[PhilipDT]

No, actually I am not kidding. I haven{t been here long enough to get an actual on ground feel for it but I can say that I am paying ín pesos about the same for a cup of coffee that I did six months ago. I know for sure on the ground in Europe before I left the cost (in local currency) for food had gone up in the same time frame.
All the money printing going on (us and europe at least) is having an effect, how far and deep that ripples out ...

You must frequent a pretty desperate coffee shop. Or one with such massive margins that they're willing to absorb the losses from inflation & devaluation just to keep customers happy.

In most places that is not the case. 6 months ago I was paying 22 pesos (and 12 months ago 18) for a 20oz drip coffee at Starbucks; currently its 28 pesos.

On the other hand, a 20oz (600ml) drip coffee at starbucks in the US costs the same as it did 6 months ago and the same as it did 12 months ago and the same as it did 24 months ago.

 

[ajoknoblauch]

Am I reading your right Steve? Can't wait to leave?

Paranoids prefer never to leave Galt's Gulch...

 

[thorsten]

Chet, in two month the latest you will look at your question with a smile Inflation here is larger than in any other country I have lived so far, and it's a constant raise. If you make a list with all spendings every month and would look at the list you did say 3 month before, I'm pretty sure that close to every price went up in the meantime. And this is not restricted to imported goods/goods relying on imports to produce, but also for local products.

 

[sleslie23]

Does anyone know the price of a liter of Stella in Crónico? Last time I was there it was around 70 pesos. It used to be 20 around 3 years ago. THAT's inflation for ya, Chet.

 

[la_guachita]

When I got here in 2003 an empanada was 50 centavos! Now what are they? Something like 8 pesos each!

Chet could get a job with INDEC, they'll love him!

 

[TWB103]

Jesus this thread is depressing!

As another poster has mentioned it sounds just like the Great Depression with the things people are having to do to survive and how resigned they are to the situation.

No place in the world is perfect but in Argentina I find myself constantly evaluating it. How much is much nicer weather worth? Is it worth more than a decent meal in the day? Being able to buy something of reasonable quality at a reasonable price - ie food, clothing and basic household goods ? Always worrying if you can pay the bills...?

After 2 and half years living here in Argentina I went back to the UK for a few months and wow it was great speaking english again and without spluttering and gibbering when trying to explain simple concepts, the humour.... Then the food! Farmhouse cheddar cheese, bacon, marmite, tescos cinnamon twirls, 2 for 1 deals, Kettle chips, decent chocolate, lasagne followed by tiramisu in Carluccios restaurant, indian curries, fish and chips..... I could go on....

But the level of consumerism over the xmas period in what was supposed to be a recession really struck me. The mindless masses spending spending spending on things they don't need. The consumerism made me think of Trainspotting often. Large groups of slightly menacing bored estate kids on the high streets and Macdonalds and pregnant teens screaming at their Tyrones and Rihanas. Meanwhile every day was cold, rain, wind with leaden skies.

Having been away I felt oddly detached from the masses, the culture and 'my' country on the whole. Like the entire country could have been in on a secret and I know nothing about it.

The problem is now the economy in Argentina is getting proper scary and Im getting nervous. Should I leave?....but to where?

Just a few short years ago life seemed so much easier!

 

[Rich One]

Empanadas today $10 pesos, tomato puree was $4,50 a year ago today over $9 pesos and so on.

but also Tulipan were $1 peso in 2003 today $12 for the classics people will have to watch the usage!

 

[mc kenna]

OH nooo Tulipan?? really? you must really hate yourself

 

[Ceviche]

Life is good. I was able to eat ceviche last night, at Osaka.

 

[Redpossum]

You must frequent a pretty desperate coffee shop. Or one with such massive margins that they're willing to absorb the losses from inflation & devaluation just to keep customers happy.

In most places that is not the case. 6 months ago I was paying 22 pesos (and 12 months ago 18) for a 20oz drip coffee at Starbucks; currently its 28 pesos.

On the other hand, a 20oz (600ml) drip coffee at starbucks in the US costs the same as it did 6 months ago and the same as it did 12 months ago and the same as it did 24 months ago.

There's your problem, stop patronising Starbucks. Big corporate chain = evil.