My Life in Argentina and Beyond

Wednesday, October 24, 2007: Just 4 days before the National elections, presidential candidate Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner says there is no inflation. Anybody who goes to the supermarket knows that prices have gone up sharply, but she is telling the country that the Indec, the organization measuring the rate of inflation is right. Everything is fine, at least as far s she is concerned. It will be interesting to see how many people vote for her on Sunday. She is the favorite, the one who will become presidenta.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007: Starting yesterday, people have decided to stop buying tomatoes. The price per kilo had reached 16 pesos, over 5 US Dollars. This is totally unacceptable and unaffordable for the average Argentine housewife. The boycott will end on Friday. Prices will then probably go down sharply.

Saturday, October 6, 2007: Nobody in the Argentine government will admit that prices have gone up dharply lately. Very few people can afford to buy vegetables anymore.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007: Very few people can afford to eat salad these days. Tomatoes, once very affordable, have become luxury items. The price has risen to 15 pesos per kilo. 15 pesos is about 5 USDollars. Too much for the average Argentine housewife. And lettuce is also expensive, the cheapest selling for about 4 or 4.50 pesos.

Thursday, September 6, 2007: Car sales have been going more than well here. It is said that about 50,000 new cars have been sold in the last month or so. This is a historic record as far as the industry is concerned.

Monday, June 18: This year´s sales for Father´s Day have risen about twenty-five percent over last year. In fact, this has been the best year as far as sales go in the past 10 years. People have more money, they use their credit cards a little more frequently--in short they feel more in control of the economic up and down game.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007: Vegetables are going up, way up. It is said that lettuce costs over 200% than it did just two months ago. Tomatoes, the same. They´ve gone up over 40%. The government says that prices have not increased.

December 28, 2006: How much fake love can I buy at Caritas for 15 pesos? How many Dears and si, señora, can I get for almost 5 U.S. Dollars? And how many minutes will this love last? I have to pick the right used thing. It has to be perfect and look right, but even if it doesn´t, I still want the nice, soft words--the same words I haven´t heard from anyone´s lips in ages.
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December 25, 2006: Sales this Christmas season in Argentina went up 30% compared with last year. Shopping malls, known simply as shoppings, stayed open till 3 A.M. for the convenience of those who like to shop at the very last moment. Many are making more money and want to forgot the deep crisis of December 2001.