In January, Argentina's wholesale inflation rate slowed to 1.6%, as reported by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec), which is a decrease from the 2.4% recorded in December. This figure is notably below the consumer inflation rate for the same month, which stood at 2.9%. The results highlighted a contrasting trend between wholesale and retail inflation rates, suggesting variability in pricing structures across different sectors.

The report detailed that the increase in the Índice de Precios Internos al por Mayor (IPIM) was driven primarily by a 1.7% increase in national products and a 1.5% rise in imported products during January. Year-on-year, the wholesale price index showed a significant increase of 26.4%, indicating persistent inflationary pressures within the Argentine economy. Notably, agricultural products contributed significantly to the overall index rise, underscoring the impact of agriculture on national inflation trends.

This deceleration in wholesale inflation, while still showcasing high year-on-year growth, could signal a temporary easing of inflationary pressures that the Argentine economy has been grappling with. The current figures raise questions about future economic policies and potential measures needed to control inflation as the disparity between wholesale and retail prices may affect consumers significantly in the coming months.