Overview
- Local shop owners in San Miguel de Tucumán reported steep revenue falls this week, with the Cámara de Comercio estimating a 30–40% drop in sales and some stores saying they closed days with "caja en cero".
- Persistent rain reduced foot traffic in microcenters and peatonal streets and caused delivery and stocking delays by making truck unloading harder.
- To try to capture last-minute buyers, businesses moved to longer opening hours and payment deals, with the Cámara de Comercio extending store hours to 9–21 on Friday and Saturday and many shops offering discounts and interest-free financing.
- Stores also pushed online, WhatsApp and social‑media sales, but those channels have been hampered by the same weather-related delivery problems that hit in-person trade.
- Outcomes varied by province, with parts of Catamarca reporting stronger card-driven sales tied to bank promotions, while the broader picture points to mounting pressure from high operating costs and e-commerce competition that could force more closures or downsizing.