Hurt by high prices, Argentines seek cheaper goods abroad

In the shopping malls of the Chilean capital and the famous beaches of Brazil, Argentines are looking to snap up various goods, from clothes to electronics, taking advantage of cheaper prices overseas as domestic costs in dollar terms spike on a stronger local peso.

The South American country’s currency strengthened over the back half of last year in parallel markets most Argentines use to skirt strict currency controls. The controlled official rate weakened, but far more slowly than triple-digit inflation, pushing up the relative cost of goods.

“Argentina became expensive,” said Buenos Aires-based economist Marina Dal Poggetto from consultancy EcoGo, estimating pesos were in real terms three times stronger…