In the midst of the complex economic situation in Argentina, February starts with increases in various items. In this sense, during the second month of the year that has just begun, there will be increases in various goods and services, which will be added to the removal of subsidies planned for the higher-income sectors.
According to scheme to increase the prices of gasoline and diesel oil agreed between the Ministry of Economy of the Nation and the oil companies, fuels will have an increase of 4% in February, although it has not yet been confirmed whether it will be applied from the first days of the month or from the second fortnight. Along the same lines, another 3.8% rise is also expected in March, after the commitment made at the end of November when they entered the Fair Prices.
As of this month, in addition, it begins to be applied a new formula for increasing prepaid medical fees, linked to the salary variation index (RIPTE). Thus, for a term of 18 months, the increase in the value of the quotas will have a maximum limit of 90% of said index of the previous month.
As planned, throughout February there will also be new increases in telephone, television and Internet services. The National Communications Entity (ENACOM) authorized increases of up to 9.8% in February and 7.8% in April for telephone, Internet and cable television services; percentage increases that apply, in general, to SMEs, cooperatives and smaller companies, since the large firms in the sector resorted to injunctions and precautionary measures that allowed them to increase their invoices above the percentages determined by the regulatory entity.
Tenants who have to make the annual update in February 2023 (due to contracts signed in February 2022 or 2021), for their part, will have to face increases close to 86%. This is marked by the update index established by the current Rental Law, which contemplates in equal parts the monthly variations of the CPI and the variation of the RIPTE. For example, then, a contract of 50,000 pesos per month will increase by 85.8% and will cost 92,938 pesos.
Finally, it should also be remembered that many electricity bills will rise by a third of the subsidy reduction being carried out by the National Secretariat of Energy, an increase that will fall on higher-income households (called N1) and also on those with higher incomes. average income called N3. Sources from the Ministry of Energy estimated that The increase will be between 20% and 30%, but the final decision will be made by the Executive Power and until now it has not been communicated.
