Unstoppable crisis: kiosks are disappearing, leaving neighborhoods without their most traditional businesses.

The economic crisis is taking its toll on one of the most traditional businesses in Argentine neighborhoods: kiosks . In the last year, more than 16,000 establishments closed, leaving the sector with fewer than 100,000 active businesses for the first time in decades, according to data from the Union of Kiosk Owners of the Argentine Republic (UKRA) .

The vice president of the organization, Ernesto Acuña , described the situation with concern: "The kiosk is like a postcard of a city or town, but they are closing for several reasons. The main one is the recession that has been felt for some time," he said in an interview with Radio Rivadavia.

The UKRA survey reflects a complicated scenario. The decline in consumption is marked: in the last two years, sales have dropped by 40% , and in beverages alone, the drop was 30 to 35% last summer. "We're selling less, much less. There's no money," Acuña summarized.

Added to this is unfair competition . The leader denounced that products previously exclusive to kiosks are now sold in pharmacies, Chinese supermarkets, and greengrocers . "Today you see refrigerators with drinks in every store, cigarettes in supermarkets, or candy in pharmacies, all without state control," he criticized.

Data from the Customs Collection and Control Agency (ARCA) confirms that the number of kiosks fell from 112,000 to 96,000 in just one year, representing a 14% reduction in the total and a direct loss of jobs, impacting households that depend on these businesses.

Political uncertainty and dollar instability exacerbate the situation. "Prices always skyrocket in the second half of the year. No matter what happens and whoever governs, speculation persists," Acuña warned, anticipating an even more difficult outlook for the remainder of the year.