Supermarket Consumption: What Products Argentines Stopped Buying and Why

Consumption in supermarkets continued to show signs of weakness during May, according to data released by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec). Although sales recorded a slight improvement compared to April, the year-on-year comparison once again yielded a negative result, extending the streak of declines.

According to the Supermarket Survey, sales reached $2.50 trillion, representing a real decrease of 0.7% compared to May 2025. In seasonally adjusted terms, however, they grew by 0.9% compared to the previous month.

An analysis by Politikon Chaco, based on Indec data, showed that eight of the eleven categories surveyed recorded year-on-year declines during May.

The largest declines were in:

• Beverages: -11.3%.
• Dairy products: -5.4%.
• Fruits and vegetables: -4.1%.
• Cleaning products: -3.7%.
• Bakery: -3.6%.
• Clothing: -2.7%.
• Prepared foods and rotisserie: -1.6%.

These segments accounted for about 73% of the total revenue of supermarkets during May, so their performance ultimately conditioned the overall result of the sector.

Only three categories managed to grow in real terms during the fifth month of the year. The largest increase was in:

• Electronics: 17.6%.
• Meats: 10.9%.
• Other products: 10.5%.

However, these categories represented only 27% of the total revenue, so they were not enough to offset the declines recorded in the most commonly consumed products.

From the supermarket sector, they assert that the scenario remains complex and that many chains have reinforced promotions and expanded the offer of private labels, which are generally cheaper, to sustain sales. Additionally, they emphasize that consumers prioritize smaller and more frequent purchases, which benefits local stores.

Performance also showed differences among the various jurisdictions. The largest year-on-year increases were recorded in:

• Neuquén: 7.6%.
• Río Negro: 4.8%.
• San Luis: 4.1%.
• Rest of the province of Buenos Aires: 2.3%.
• La Pampa: 2.0%.
• City of Buenos Aires: 1.1%.
• Santa Fe: 1.1%.
• Santiago del Estero: 0.9%.
• Mendoza: 0.4%.
• Córdoba: 0.1%.

In contrast, the most pronounced declines were observed in:

• Corrientes: -22.7%.
• Misiones: -14.3%.
• La Rioja: -12.2%.
• San Juan (-0.4%) and Formosa (-0.9%) also recorded declines.

Data from the consulting firm Scentia showed that the negative trend continued during June. Mass consumption fell by 2.7% in the year-on-year comparison and 2.4% compared to May, while the accumulated figure for 2026 showed a contraction of 2.9%.

In chain supermarkets, the decline was 2.6% year-on-year and 0.9% compared to the previous month. In the accumulated figure for the year, the drop reached 4.6%.

Considering all sales channels, only two baskets managed to close June with positive numbers. Alcoholic beverages led the growth with an increase of 9.4%, a performance that various analysts linked to higher consumption during the 2026 World Cup. Non-alcoholic beverages also grew, with an increase of 3.5%. In contrast, the rest of the categories recorded declines, such as breakfast and snacks at 7.7%, home and clothing cleaning at 6.2%, and perishable foods that fell by 5.7%.

Meanwhile, impulse products recorded a decline of 5.3%, hygiene and cosmetics by 3.7%, and food by 0.5%.

The data reflects that consumption continues to face a scenario of weakness, with increasingly selective behavior from households, which prioritize essential products and seek lower-priced alternatives to manage daily expenses.