Inflation in Buenos Aires City was 7.1% in March, figures released by the City Government’s General Directorate of Statistics and Census showed today. 

The figures, published nine days before nationwide inflation figures are released on April 14, are a blow to economy minister Sergio Massa, who said in late 2022 that he hoped inflation would be below 4% by April.

Inter-annual inflation in the capital is now running at 105.5% and prices have risen by 21.8% this year so far, the report shows. 

Education jumped by 23.2%, as schools and universities increased their fees for the start of the school year. The other categories with the greatest increases included clothing and footwear (10.1%), insurance and financial services (9.3%), and food and non-alcoholic drinks (up by 9.1%), the latter as a result of increased prices for meat (12.6%), vegetables (11.2%), dairy products (10.1%) and fruit (10.9%). 

Rent raises and increased energy bills contributed to a 6.3% increase in housing costs.