Market Expectations Survey (REM)
The forecasts included in the REM are not projections made by the BCRA.
This survey enables a systematic monitoring of the main short- and medium-term macroeconomic forecasts on the evolution of the Argentine economy, based on a survey of specialized local and foreign analysts.
The survey is carried out on the last three business days of each month, and includes: expectations on retail prices, interest rates, nominal exchange rates, level of economic activity, primary balance of the national non-financial public sector, unemployment rate, FOB exports and CIF imports.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | MAY 2026
This report, published on June 4, 2026, disseminates the results of the survey carried out between May 27 and 29, 2026, involving 46 participants, including 34 local and international consulting firms and research centers and 12 financial institutions in Argentina.
In the fifth survey of the year, REM participants estimated monthly inflation of 2.3% for May (unchanged from the previous REM). Those who best projected this variable in the past (Top 10) also reported inflation of 2.3% monthly for May (-0.1 p.p. than the previous REM). Regarding the Core CPI, the REM participants as a whole placed their estimates for May at 2.2% (-0.1 p.p. compared to the previous REM). The Top 10 estimated core inflation of 2.3% per month for the fifth month of the year (-0.2 p.p. in relation to the previous REM).
In the May survey, the REM analysts estimated that seasonally adjusted output would have expanded 0.3% in the quarter. I -26 and would increase 1.2% in the Quarter. II -26 (+0.1 p.p. and +0.2 p.p. compared to the previous survey, respectively). For the Trim. III-26 The growth projection s.e. of the REM analysts as a whole was 0.9% (unchanged from the previous REM). By 2026, REM participants expect an average real GDP level 2.9% higher than the 2025 average (+0.1 p.p. compared to the previous survey). Those who make up the Top 10 projected, on average, a growth of 2.8% for the year 2026 (+0.2 p.p. compared to the previous REM).
The open unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2026 was estimated by those who participate in the REM at 7.7% of the Economically Active Population (unchanged from the previous REM). The REM participants as a whole expect a rate of 7.4% for the fourth quarter of 2026 (the same level as in the previous survey). For its part, the Top 10 estimated rates of 7.8% and 7.4% for the first and fourth quarters of 2026, respectively.
REM participants forecast a TAMAR of private banks for June of 22.75% TNA (-0.2 p.p. compared to the previous REM), equivalent to a monthly effective rate of 1.87%. By December 2026, the REM participants as a whole projected a TAMAR of 22.1% nominal annual (+0.1 p.p. in relation to the previous REM), equivalent to a TEM of 1.82%. The Top 10 forecast that the TAMAR rate will stand at 22.2% TNA and 21.7% TNA, by June and December 2026, respectively.
The median of nominal exchange rate projections stood at $1,422 per dollar for the average of June 2026 (-$15/USD compared to the previous REM). For December 2026, the group of participants forecast a nominal exchange rate of $1,658/USD, which yields an expected year-on-year variation of 14.5%. For the Top 10 analysts, the average nominal exchange rate expected for December would be $1,596/USD.
Regarding foreign trade in goods, those who participate in the REM projected that by 2026 exports (FOB) will total USD9,547 million (+USD 2,491 million compared to the previous survey) and imports (CIF) USD7 8,363 million (-USD 1,187 million compared to the previous REM). The expected annual trade surplus would be USD 20,185 million (USD 3,679 million more than in the previous REM).
Finally, the projection of the primary fiscal result of the National Non-Financial Public Sector made by those who participate in the REM was a surplus of $16.0 trillion by 2026 (+100 billion compared to the previous REM). The Top 10 average forecast a primary surplus of $15.7 trillion. No participant expected a primary surplus of less than $9.0 trillion for this year.
Retail prices
Monthly change of the consumer price index (CPI), which measures the level of retail prices of a set of goods and services that represent household consumption in a given period.
Activity
Quarterly change of gross domestic product (GDP) in constant currency, which measures the value of final goods and services produced in a year.
Imports
Monthly value of foreign purchases of goods in millions of current dollars—Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF), i.e., including insurance and freight costs.
Interest rate
Monthly value of the average interest rate weighted by amount, calculated on the basis of time deposits of ARS1 billion or more with a 30 to 35-day term (TAMAR rate).
SPNF
Yearly cash-based value of the primary balance of the national non-financial public sector (SPNF), which measures the difference between revenues and primary expenditures.
Unemployment
Quarterly value of the unemployment rate, which measures the percentage of unemployed population over the economically active population (PEA).
Nominal exchange rate
Monthly quotation of the benchmark exchange rate – Communication A 3500 (wholesale exchange rate) stated in pesos per dollar (ARS/USD).
Exports
Monthly value of foreign sales of goods in millions of current dollars—Free on Board (FOB), i.e., excluding insurance and freight costs.
Annex
Tables displaying the REM results for the surveyed variables.
| Report | Frequency | Period | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | Mayo 2026 | 04 Jun 2026 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | April 2026 | 07 May 2026 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | March 2026 | 08 Apr 2026 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | February 2026 | 05 Mar 2026 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | January 2026 | 05 Feb 2026 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | December 2025 | 07 Jan 2026 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | October 2025 | 07 Nov 2025 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | September 2025 | 06 Oct 2025 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | August 2025 | 04 Sep 2025 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | July 2025 | 06 Aug 2025 |
| Market Expectations Survey (REM) | Monthly | June 2025 | 04 Jul 2025 |