At the outset of the year, Economy Minister Luis Caputo asserted on multiple occasions that Argentina would experience its “best 18 months” in “recent decades” during the period spanning May to June 2026. With only three months remaining until the conclusion of the year, that economic bonanza is, however, far from being reflected among the vast majority. According to the latest public opinion poll conducted by consulting firm Management & Fit, over 69% of respondents indicated that their personal issues are fundamentally economic. The challenge of balancing financial obligations continues to be the foremost issue for individuals, as indicated by 22% of responses, whereas a reduction in purchasing power ranks second at 17%.
In real terms, average registered salaries have declined by 3.4% since President Javier Milei assumed office in November 2023. Personal or family debt problems were identified as the fourth most significant personal issue, accounting for 10% of the concerns. Debt issues stem from the rise in household delinquency, which has hit unprecedented levels this year. In July 2026, the rate of delinquency on credit extended to households within the financial system was recorded at 13%. According to data from the Center for Argentine Political Economy (CEPA, by its Spanish acronym), it registered at 2.5% in November 2024. The figure is notably elevated when examining delinquency rates on credit extended to families outside the financial system: it was recorded at 33.9% last July, in contrast to 7.3% in November 2024.
While the three concerns of difficulty making ends meet, decline in purchasing power, and debt showed a minor reduction compared to the previous M&F poll conducted in July, this decline can be attributed to an uptick in mentions of lack of work at 9.4%, difficulty renting at 7.4%, and the insecurity of job loss at 4.5%. That concern does not emerge from a vacuum. The unemployment rate increased from 6.2% in the second quarter of 2023 to 7.9% in the corresponding period of 2026. The study also revealed that over 52% of families encounter challenges in meeting their expenses. When analysed by gender, it becomes evident that economic hardship is disproportionately experienced by women.If segmented by education level, these difficulties impact a greater number of individuals with a lower level of education. If segmented by age range, it is more prevalent to observe them among respondents aged over 40.
When queried about the primary issue facing the country at this time, nearly 20% identified unemployment as the foremost concern, securing the top position in the ranking. In second place was the rise in public utility rates, accounting for nearly 19% of the total. Fifth was poverty, with more than 13%. The situation has attracted the attention of the International Monetary Fund. In her most recent press conference, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozak said that one topic the Fund has discussed with the Milei administration is ensuring that “growth, which so far has been very much in the energy, mining, and agricultural sectors, broadens and becomes more evenly distributed across sectors in the economy, but also across workers.”
