Overview
- Scentia reported on Thursday that mass-consumption sales fell 0.7% in August and are down 2.7% year-to-date, reversing a brief improvement seen in July.
- Online shopping was the only strong channel in August, with e‑commerce growing about 36.9% year-on-year but remaining too small to offset losses in stores.
- Physical formats showed broad weakness: Scentia recorded month-on-month drops in supermarkets and independent autoservicios while INDEC data show supermarkets fell year-on-year and wholesale outlets have run several months of decline.
- Key product groups drove the downturn, with non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic drinks, perishables, and personal-care and cleaning items logging the steepest falls.
- Consumers face rising food prices and shifting payment mixes that lower real purchasing power, a pattern that increases store visits but reduces average spend and will likely force retailers to change pricing, promotion, and supply strategies.