By Hernan Nessi
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s inflation rate is expected to rise to over 5 percent in June, according to a Reuters poll on Wednesday, ending a five-month streak of declining price increases.
A survey of 21 local and foreign analysts found that the median inflation rate was 5.1% and the average was 5.2% for June.
Since the inauguration of President Javier Milei late last year, the South American country has seen a decline in inflation, falling from 25.5% in December to 4.2% in May.
The June figure is expected to break the streak, with analysts predicting between 4.6% and 5.6%.
According to Fundacion Libertad y Progreso, the acceleration was “mainly explained by regulated prices, which rose by 8.6% month on month. This increase was mainly due to the change in gas and electricity rates.”
Consulting firm Orlando Ferreres y Asociados said the increases were greatest in housing and transport and communications costs, at around 17% and 11% respectively, followed by health care and education, both at around 6%.
The national statistics agency INDEC will release its inflation figures at 1900 GMT on Friday.
(Reporting by Hernan Nessi; Editing by Bill Berkrot)