Once again, the beginning of a new month marks the continuation of increases in the different items of daily life, which complicates the day-to-day and increasingly distances wages from the possibility of overcoming inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) for March was 7.7% and reached a historic peak that seems to have no brakes, given that In May, tickets for buses and trains in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA), gas and electricity rates and fees at private schools will increase, in addition to rents and tollsamong other items.
The Argentine government continues with the plan to remove subsidies on energy rates and for this reason it now targets users of electrical energy that are within the highest income level. The 30% of users with the highest income will suffer increases in electricity of up to almost 90% and something similar will happen with gas, an item in which the increase would be around 40%.
From May 1, there will be a 7.8% increase in public transport fares in the city. The minimum bus ticket will cost $46.48 and the Roca Train ticket will cost $20.72. The taxi drivers, for their part, demand a 35% increase that, if approved, will bring the drop to $232 and the token to $25 during daytime hours and $270 and $27, respectively, at night.
Prepaid will rise almost 5% for those who receive net income equal to or greater than $392,562 (according to the RIPTE index) and private schools may apply an increase in the province of Buenos Aires of up to 6.7% in fees for Maytwice the percentage agreed with the national authorities.
Those tenants who complete a year of contract since their last update will also have an increase close to 100%. This percentage arises from a formula established by the Rental Law, which is determined by an index prepared by the Central Bank based on the evolution of inflation and wages. On the other hand, and after the agreement of 27% on the minimum remuneration of the personnel, the National Commission of Work in Private Houses will collect from May the second installment of the increase, which will be 7%. In June it will be completed with 6%.
Gasoline and diesel once again configure another of the increases scheduled for May. After the renewal of the price agreement with the Government, the oil companies will apply the 4% rise this month. And as for credit cards, refinancing the outstanding balance on the credit card will be more expensive from May. The cost will go to 80% annual nominal, three percentage points more than the value that prevailed until April.
