ARGENTINA · PRICES
Key Facts
- —What is happening Argentine food prices rose 0.59% in the third week of October 2026, against 0.12% for all prices in the same weekly survey.
- —Why it matters Food drove the whole weekly rise, adding 0.16 points to the index, and food is projected at 2.4% for October against 1.8% for all prices.
- —The numbers Food fell 0.05% in the first week of October, then rose 1.05% and 0.59%, about 1.6% so far this month, with bread and cereals up 2.14% in the third week.
- —Who is who Eco Go is an Argentine economics and political advisory firm active since 2005. INDEC, the national statistics office, publishes the official consumer price index, which showed 1.9% for September.
- —What to watch The next weekly Eco Go reading and INDEC’s October consumer price figure, whose release date is not yet confirmed.
- —Power Index Argentina ranks 4th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 61.2 points (October 2026 edition).
- —Prediction markets Polymarket gives 45% to Argentina’s October monthly inflation landing between 1.6% and 1.8%, and 36% to 1.9% to 2.1% (22 October, 2:44 a.m. ET).
- —What it means for you For US residents, retirees and travellers spending pesos in Argentina, food is rising faster than other goods, and airfares rose 6.4% and lodging 5.3% in the week.
Argentina’s food prices rose 0.59% in the third week of October, against 0.12% for all prices, the consultancy Eco Go says. It projects food at 2.4% for the month.
Argentina food inflation ran at 0.59% in the third week of October, according to the consultancy Eco Go. That is almost five times the 0.12% rise in the general price level.
The weekly survey is dated Monday, 19 October, and Argentine outlets reported it on Wednesday, 21 October. It matters to US residents, retirees and travellers who spend pesos in Argentina, because food drove the whole rise.
What Eco Go Measured in the Third Week
Eco Go’s retail price survey, called the RPM, tracks the basic food basket and other goods and services each week. In the third week of October the food basket rose 0.59% while the general level rose 0.12%.
Food added 0.16 points to the weekly index, which is more than the whole 0.12% rise. A 1.75% fall in clothing and footwear held the general figure down.
Without that fall, Eco Go says, the general weekly figure would have been about 0.29%. Food was below the 1.05% of the week before but still the main driver.
Over the month, food fell 0.05% in the first week, rose 1.05% in the second and 0.59% in the third. That adds up to about 1.6% so far in October.
Where Food Prices Rose Most
Seven of the ten food groups rose, and five rose by more than the food average. Bread and cereals led with 2.14%, while dairy and eggs recorded the biggest fall.
Some local headlines speak of rises above 2%. That figure refers to the bread and cereals group, not to food as a whole.
Meat, the heaviest group in the basket, barely moved on shelves at 0.1%, after 1.3% the week before. Poultry rose 1.0% and beef fell 0.2%.
Fruit rose 1.7% on shelves, ending two weeks of declines. Vegetables rose 0.8% for a second week running, or 2.7% over two weeks.
Wholesale Prices Keep Pressure on Shelves
Wholesale meat rose 0.9% in the week, its third straight rise and 3.6% in total. Eco Go says this keeps up the pressure on retail prices.
Since October 2025, meat has risen 55.6% at wholesale and 45.4% on shelves. Retail prices have therefore risen less than wholesale prices over the year.
Wholesale fruit rose 1.3%, up 10.2% in three weeks, and Eco Go says the pass-through to retail prices has begun to show. Wholesale vegetables rose 0.5% after two weeks of declines.
Beyond food, the biggest weekly rises were in services, with airfares up 6.4% and lodging up 5.3%. Tolls also rose, while trousers fell 7.1% and footwear 4.2%.
How the Weekly Gauges Compare
Private weekly surveys use different methods, so results differ. LCG, which scrapes 8,000 prices at five supermarkets, put food and beverages up 0.4% in the second week of October.
Eco Go measured about 1% for food in the same week. The gap shows why one consultancy’s weekly figure is a signal, not a verdict.
The official gauge is INDEC, which reported 1.9% for September, 23.6% for the first nine months and 33.4% over 12 months. Eco Go’s October projection of 1.8% would put annual inflation near 32.4%.
Eco Go puts food and beverages at 26.9% for the year so far and 34.0% over 12 months. These are the consultancy’s own estimates, not INDEC data.
What It Means for US Readers
US residents, retirees and travellers who spend pesos in Argentina face food prices rising faster than the general level. Eco Go expects food up 2.4% in October against 1.8% for all prices.
Higher airfares and lodging in the survey add to the cost of trips. Investors in Argentine assets watch monthly inflation, because it shapes interest rates and the peso.
Background is in earlier reports on the September inflation figure, wholesale prices, the pay survey and FIX inflation scenarios. The Argentina news hub and the guide to Argentina give more context.
What Prediction Markets Say
Polymarket’s market on Argentina’s October monthly inflation gives 45% to a reading between 1.6% and 1.8%. It gives 36% to 1.9% to 2.1%, using bid and ask midpoints at 2:44 a.m. ET on 22 October.
About US$15,700 has traded in the market, which is due to close on Thursday, 12 November. Eco Go’s 1.8% projection sits at the top of the more likely range.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What Is Not Known
It is not known whether the pattern will hold, since Eco Go’s projection assumes 0.5% weekly rises. Its figures are a private estimate and can differ from INDEC’s official reading.
The Eco Go report could not be opened, so its figures rest on El Destape, El Zonda and TeleSol Diario. The second-week food figure is 1.05% in the third-week report, but Perfil gave 1.03% on 16 October.
INDEC’s September table could not be read directly, so those figures rest on La Capital, Canal 26 and Perfil. INDEC’s release date for October inflation is not confirmed.
What Comes Next
Eco Go’s survey for the fourth week of October is the next test of its 1.8% projection. INDEC publishes the official October figure in November.
A rise near 0.5% a week would match Eco Go’s assumption, and faster rises would push October above 1.8%. This is a consultancy projection, not a forecast by INDEC or the central bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did food prices rise in Argentina in the third week of October?
Eco Go measured a 0.59% rise in the food basket, against 0.12% for the general price level. Food added 0.16 points to the weekly index.
Which foods rose most in Argentina this week?
Bread and cereals led with 2.14%, and fruit rose 1.7% on shelves. Meat rose just 0.1% on shelves but 0.9% at wholesale.
What does Eco Go expect for October inflation?
Eco Go projects food up 2.4% and general prices up 1.8% for the month. That assumes prices rise 0.5% in each remaining week.
What was Argentina’s official inflation in September?
INDEC reported 1.9% for the month and 33.4% over 12 months. The first nine months of 2026 added up to 23.6%.
Who is Eco Go?
Eco Go is an Argentine consultancy that has advised on economic, political and financial-market matters since 2005. Its weekly retail price survey tracks food and other goods.
Sources: Eco Go Consultores, Relevamiento de Precios Minoristas, third week of October (listed 19 October; report not opened); El Destape, 21 October; Diario El Zonda, 21 October; TeleSol Diario, 21 October; Perfil on LCG and Eco Go, 16 October; La Capital de Mar del Plata on INDEC, 13 October; Canal 26 on INDEC, 13 October; Polymarket market prices, 22 October (all accessed 22 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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