Buying some items in Argentina has stopped being convenient for Uruguayans since the end of last year.
The latest price comparisons between Uruguay and Argentina show a moderation that does not make shopping tourism so convenient in the country governed by Javier Milei. There are even products that can be purchased at a lower price in Uruguayan stores.
The border price indicator (IPF), prepared by the Catholic University Campus Salto, corresponding to January, showed similar results to the previous measurement carried out in November of last year.
Prices in the Uruguayan department were 22.7% more expensive than in Concordia in the first month of the year, with a minimal variation compared to November when they were 21.7%.
The price difference is at its lowest level since March 2018, when it was 20.6%. The peak was observed in September 2023, when it reached 180.2%.
In the case of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the gap remains in favor of the Argentine town of Concordia with 27%. There were two products that showed differences of between 100% and 300%: powdered desserts and mayonnaise.
The survey showed that six foods had favorable prices on the Uruguayan side. They were baking powder, yogurt, cooked ham, rice, alfajores and packaged white bread in slices.
In some cases, the difference reached 20%. The same situation had already been observed in November, on that occasion with nine products.
In the case of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, prices remain favourable on the Argentine side, with a difference that grew to 44% in January.
Since the end of last year, clothing and footwear have shown advantages in Salto compared to Concordia.
The November measurement showed that prices on the Uruguayan side were 10% cheaper, a difference that widened to 18% in January of this year.
The report from the Catholic University indicated that from November 2015 to September 2018, Salto had registered lower prices than the Argentine town.
But starting in April 2019, this dynamic began to change, with a progressive increase in the price gap being observed.
This increase reached its highest level in July 2022 with a differential of 85%. From that moment on, the price variation began to moderate until it became positive for Salto in the last two measurements.
The segment is made up of six categories, which in all cases showed advantages on the Salta side. Prices for children's footwear were 0.4% more convenient; 12.2% for men and 15.2% for women. Children's clothing had a difference of 3.8%, while in jeans for women it reached 27% and 26.4% for men.
Within the household products group, the performance was uneven. Although the general gap widened and reached 33% in favor of Concordia, there were items that were cheaper in Salto.
For example, sheets and pillowcases had a more favorable price on the Uruguayan side (36%), as did towels with 10%.
However, powder and bar cleaning soaps and detergent were more convenient in Concordia (67.9% and 54.8%, respectively).
In the transportation and fuel segment, prices for tires, tubes and covers were more affordable in Salto (20.1%).
The IPF also indicated that the prices of school supplies were lower in Salto than in Concordia. In the January measurement, the difference was 39%.
The report concluded that the stability of the price gap between Salto and Concordia between November and January was due to the increase in the exchange rate in both countries, so the relative increase in the price of the basket considered by the border indicator was not significant.
