Father's Day marked by lower spending: sales fell 1.7%, and the CAME (Mexico City Council) warns of a "worrying situation."

Father's Day celebrations left a bitter taste in Argentine businesses . Despite being an important date for sales , SMEs didn't achieve the expected results, and CAME warns of an increasingly complex outlook.

"It was a cold Father's Day, and not just because of the weather," Vicente Lourenzo, spokesperson for the Argentine Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CAME), told Radio Rivadavia. He also explained that the low consumption level raised alarm bells in the sector.

The average ticket price ranged between $40,000 and $50,000 , an amount considered low compared to current prices.

“It was very noticeable that consumers prioritized lower-cost gifts. Instead of three gifts, many opted for just one,” Lourenzo explained, also highlighting that profitability was also lower due to the promotions and discounts applied to stimulate demand.

Father's Day 2025 sales fell 1.7% compared to 2024 , measured at constant prices, reflecting a decrease in purchasing power that was not offset by promotions, according to the Argentine Confederation of Medium-Sized Enterprises (CAME).

Purchases for the traditional celebration honoring fathers were once again lower than the previous year, despite the fact that "more than 90% of businesses were running special promotions."

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This year's -1.7% decline follows the -10.2% decline in 2024 and the -1.2% decline in 2023 , consolidating a cycle of unfavorable results for the sector on this key date in the trading calendar.

The report stated that "this evolution shows that Father's Day, far from being a driving force for retail trade, has been diminished as an opportunity for sales recovery."

The spokesperson for the organization that represents small and medium-sized businesses noted that, despite being one of the key dates in the commercial calendar, the movement was not enough to offset the month's commitments.

“We're very concerned. June is a demanding month: we have to pay salaries, Christmas bonuses, rent, and taxes, and these kinds of days used to help balance the books. This time, they didn't,” he said.

Among the factors influencing the sales decline, in addition to the slowdown in consumer spending, Lourenzo mentioned the bad weather over the weekend and strong competition from online commerce.

In this regard, he noted that many consumers chose digital platforms to purchase, in some cases even turning to foreign marketplaces.

The drop in sales due to Father's Day adds to a downward trend already evident on other special dates such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day last year.

CAME announced that the surveys will be completed during the week to release a final report, although they already assume the numbers will confirm the decline.

"We need purchasing power to recover and measures to support SME businesses; otherwise, the second half of the year will be even more difficult," Lourenzo concluded.