While the administration of Javier Milei has celebrated May’s 1.5% inflation rate as “The lowest in five years,” according to presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni, the situation in Córdoba presents a different picture. The national moderation in prices stems from an adjustment model impacting the entire country,where foods barely increased 0.5%, but consumption has decreased.

The economic measures implemented by President Luis caputo are reportedly straining regional economies. The Córdoba Consumer price Index (IPC-CBA) registered a 2% increase compared to March 2025, exceeding the national average. The General Directorate of Statistics and Census noted a 1% monthly variation in goods.

Accumulated price increases in Córdoba reached 13.8 percent in the first five months of the year.The interannual measurement stands at 46.3 percent, surpassing the 43.5 percent observed nationwide.

Meaningful increases were seen across several sectors in May. The “teaching” segment experienced a 4.1 percent jump. Additionally, “Properties, fuels, water and electricity” showed an increase of 3.6 percent,influenced by rising costs of essential services like water,electricity,gas,and housing rentals. The “health” sector also saw a notable rise, driven by the cost of pharmaceutical products and medical insurance.

mass consumption products, specifically “food and drinks,” rose by 1.4 percent, primarily due to the elevation of the average values ​​of the meat and their derivatives consumed in restaurants, as well as dairy products and eggs. In contrast, the “Transport and Communications” section showed the lowest growth at 0.6 percent.

Citizens of Córdoba are feeling the impact of economic policies, with many struggling to maintain their living standards. The Argentine Integrated System (SIPA) confirmed that in March, 8,982 registered jobs were lost, mainly in the private sector. Compared to November 2023, the end of Alberto Fernández‘s government, the fall is 195,674 formal jobs.

Rising Debt as a Survival Mechanism

From November 2023 to April of this year, credit card purchases in supermarkets increased from 39.4% to 45.9%, while debit card payments fell from 33.3% to 27.0%. This indicates that families are increasingly relying on debt to afford basic necessities.

Between July 2024 and May 2025, the percentage of debt households remained above 90%.

A survey of warehouses and retail merchants in the province of Córdoba revealed that “Between July 2024 and May 2025, the percentage of debt households remained above 90% and indicators such as debts in an irregular situation, credit card debts for food purchase and households that allocate more than 30% of their income to the payment of debts worsened considerably.”

The report also noted that “In recent months,the irregularity ratio was raised in loans granted to families until reaching 3.3% in March (2.8% on credit cards, 4.1% in personal loans).” this suggests that the financial system is supporting a model that forces families into perpetual debt to access basic foods.