Unemployment displaces inflation as Argentines' main concern

Unemployment has become the top concern for Argentines, surpassing inflation according to a recent economic expectations report by the polling firm Opina Argentina. Thirty-six percent of respondents ranked it as their primary issue, while inflation and insecurity were ranked at 11% and 9%, respectively. The survey, conducted online with 1,507 respondents across the country from August 7 to 11, revealed that 64% of respondents feared a family member could lose their job in the coming months.

Sixty percent also believe their personal situation will worsen in the coming months, seven points higher than in July and the highest reading since the end of the Alberto Fernández government. Additionally, 50% of those surveyed reported they cannot make ends meet, and 18% managed to save any money over the past month. Fear of job loss and economic uncertainty is reflected in household spending, with 62% of respondents considering it a poor time to buy household appliances and 75% spending nothing on leisure activities.

The majority of the respondents, 55%, expect inflation to accelerate, while 22% anticipate it to fall. Furthermore, 63% of respondents believe the government is not addressing the inflation problem, and 57% expect the exchange rate to rise. The rejection of three economic bills proposed by the executive to Congress also stands at over 58%, with the Chamber of Deputies set to vote on the expansion of Fiscal Innocence and the reform of the central bank's charter on Wednesday.