How soaring inflation could clinch election for Milei

It's 10pm on a weeknight in Palermo, Buenos Aires, and business in the Nuevo D'accordo restaurant is doing well.

-  Josefina Salomón

There are families savouring steaks, lads drinking beer, people picking up takeaway orders. But it doesn't take much effort to see the devastating effect that one of the highest inflation rates in the world-close to 140%, according to the latest official figures - is having on daily life in Argentina.

Prices on the menu are written on peel-off stickers so they can be easily updated - at least once a week, the manager says. The same happens in most restaurants and shops.

"We update prices every week," said Manuel, who owns a market vegetable and fruit stall. "It's like trying to do magic to get to the end of the month. I don't know what is going to happen, but something has to change."

Such feelings help explain the rise of Javier Milei, the libertarian outsider who is within reach of victory in Sunday's presidential runoff election.