On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Argentina's foreign exchange market showed calm: the informal 'blue' dollar held at ARS 1,550 for selling, while the official rate at Banco Nación stood at ARS 1,520. Financial dollars (MEP and CCL) also moved little. Here are all the details, explained for international readers.
Argentina's informal dollar, the blue dollar, closed flat at 1,550 pesos for sale in Buenos Aires, but gained 5 pesos over the week. In the province of San Juan, it now trades at 1,580 pesos. The unofficial currency has remained above the MEP rate since early July, a signal of persistent pressure in the market.
On Thursday, August 20, 2026, Argentina's informal 'blue' dollar fell 10 pesos to close at 1,550 pesos per US dollar in Buenos Aires, while the official rate remained unchanged at 1,515 pesos for sale at Banco Nación. Financial dollars like MEP and CCL saw slight gains, and the country risk index rose to 517 basis points amid a presidential speech.
On August 19, 2026, Argentina's informal 'blue' dollar climbed to 1,560 pesos for sale, while the official rate stood at 1,520. The country risk index edged closer to 500 basis points, reflecting investor caution. Meanwhile, wholesale inflation slowed to 0.8% in July, the lowest in 14 months.
