The necessary resources for the second month in a row not being poor or destitute rose more than the increase in the general price level. While inflation measured by the index was 2.5% in November, the Basic Food Basket (CBA) rose 4.1% and the Total Basket (CBT) rose 3.6%.
The CBA indicates the amount of income a person needs to avoid falling into poverty. According to official figures, it was $183,289 last month. The CBT, for its part, represents the amount required to not be considered a poverty line: $406,903.
According to Indec, In November, a family of four needed $1,257,329 to avoid falling into poverty and $566,364 to avoid homelessness.
November again reflected a phenomenon already observed in October. Purchasing power, which marks the limits for avoiding poverty and misery, became more expensive than the general price level. In the tenth month of the year Inflation was 2.3%while CBA and CBT recorded 3.1% each.
This trend was not common throughout 2025. In fact, he showed completely different behavior between April and September.
In September, both baskets had recorded an increase of 1.4%; in August 1%; in July 1.9%; in June 1.1% for CBA and 1.6% for CBT; and in May the CBA reflected deflation of 0.4% while the CBT was up just 0.1%. None of these figures exceeded the inflation rates of the respective months.
But beyond the monthly analysis, the performance of the base baskets so far this year is the reason for the accumulated inflation. The total CBA in 2025 is 26.1%, while the CBT is 22.7%.. For its part, the General Price Index (CPI) rose by 27.9% through November.
The same connection is also found in a year-on-year comparison: the figures for the CBA showed an increase of 28.9%, for the CBT an increase of 25.5%, while the CPI showed 31.4% according to official measurements.
One aspect that the behavior of baskets and inflation have in common in November is their acceleration. In October, CBA and CBT had recorded a divergence of 3.1%, a figure that contrasts with the previous 4.1% and 3.6%.
The The CBA is calculated taking into account the normative requirements for calories and essential proteins for an adult male between 30 and 60 years of age with moderate activity to meet his needs for one month (equivalent adult). The selection and quantity of food is based on the consumption habits recorded in the National Household Expenditure Survey (ENGHo).
On his part CBT expands CBA to include non-food goods and services. The estimate is made using the Engel coefficient (CdE), which relates food expenditure to the total expenditure of the reference population, as described in the official report.
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