Retail sales continue downward trend

There are 6 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 237 times. The latest Post (December 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM) was by UK Man.

    Quote from Splinter

    I take these reports with a pinch of salt because wherever I go, the streets are full of shoppers, even when it's not Christmas.

    More new shops opening than older ones closing here. I do see more offers about so maybe they've come to their senses and are willing to compete more for business. Some of the older shopkeepers do seem to prefer to sit outside drinking mate and chatting to their mates than having to get off their arse to actually serve a customer. :rolleyes:

    We have always been surprised to see restaurants full and shoppers carrying purchases, even when inflation was far worse than now. Where is this money coming from?

    But I’m especially curious about skepticism over these retail spending figures provided not by the government but by the Argentine Confederation of Medium-Sized Enterprises (CAME). Are they also not reliable?

    And the data on household economic stress, the households below the poverty line, people holding more than one job, etc. — are UBA’s Gino Germani Institute and the Instituto Argentina Grande (IAG) also not to be trusted?

    Quote from Rice

    But I’m especially curious about skepticism over these retail spending figures provided not by the government but by the Argentine Confederation of Medium-Sized Enterprises (CAME). Are they also not reliable?

    My take is that if you don't complain, you don't get anything - El que no llora, no mama! (the squeaky wheel gets the grease)

    Perhaps they were used to subsidies, or to union contributions by mandatory membership, hence they want to be heard and seen as "necessary" for survival of the business. God forbid any good news come from them!

    I think the figures are fairly accurate.

    Last weekend I had dinner with an Ozzie friend in the capital.

    He's a regular visitor and he mentioned that the 4 restaurants that he had been in were less than 50% as busy compared to last year.

    Quote from GlasgowJohn

    I think the figures are fairly accurate.

    Last weekend I had dinner with an Ozzie friend in the capital.

    He's a regular visitor and he mentioned that the 4 restaurants that he had been in were less than 50% as busy compared to last year.

    The dining scene here is strange. New places can be all the rage for the first year or two then become quieter before shutting up shop altogether. We only have a couple at most that have survived since I first came over 20 years ago.