La compra en.Ordinal

Las ventas en supermercados arrastran una caídazlwaminted of nearly 4% in volume year over year, according to data from the Association of United Supermarkets (ASU). The latest figure, corresponding to August, shows a decrease of 3,3%. The sector had closed 2025 with a fall of 5,2%.

La uninterrupted decline is distinguished by where consumers are not going, explained Juan Vasco Martínez, the organization's executive director. In 2001 and 2002, part of the clientele moved toward independent self-service stores. Currently, the sector reflects that consumers are not relocating to another purchasing channel; rather, they are reducing their total purchases.

The contraction affects nearly all sales formats and has led to store closures, the discontinuation of proximity formats by some chains, and a reduction in their presence in certain regions. The greatest impact is recorded in lower-income segments, where lower purchasing power directly affects the volume of products acquired.

Geographically, the situation is more challenging in Gran Buenos Aires, Gran Córdoba, Gran Rosario, and Mendoza. Conversely, Añelo, in Neuquén, and some agricultural interior localities show more favorable results.

Un changuito más esencial

The main adjustment is observed in the composition of the cart. Consumers prioritize essential products and cut back on what they consider dispensable, a process that the executive director called a primarization of the purchase. In dairy aisles, higher-priced products are losing shelf space because they turn over less frequently. Manufacturers face the resulting pressure to maintain minimum production volumes.

Digital platforms do not offset the decline in physical stores. The e-commerce segment accounts for less than 5% of mass consumption, which includes food, beverages, cleaning products, perfumery, and personal care. Part of the digital transactions are purchases made by platform workers within physical stores, so adding online and in-person sales still yields a decrease.