Overview
- INDEC reported on Thursday that the share of people below the poverty line rose to 32.3% in the first half of 2026 and extreme poverty climbed to 7.5%.
- Household income per person increased about 11.5% in H1 2026 while the basic basket used to set the poverty line rose nearly 20%, eroding real purchasing power.
- Unemployment rose to 7.9% in Q2 2026 and formal private-sector jobs have fallen for 13 straight months, leaving job creation weak and many households exposed.
- Community indicators such as overflowing soup kitchens, revived barter clubs and short-term loans for groceries show how the statistics are translating into everyday hardship.
- The Catholic University of Argentina projects poverty could reach roughly 35% by year-end, a political risk for President Javier Milei who insists he will not loosen austerity; the current rise reverses part of the decline from 2025 but remains below 2024 peak levels.