In Argentina, scattered looting portends ugly election race as inflation bites

Police forces guard the surroundings of an area after local residents attempted to loot a Diarco supermarket in the southern town of Bariloche, Patagonia Region, Argentina, August 23, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

BUENOS AIRES/BARILOCHE (Reuters) - A spate of looting of stores and supermarkets around Argentina has led to dozens of arrests, a possible sign of increasing volatility with inflation over 100% and a tense race to general elections in October.

The looting, from southern Patagonian city Bariloche to wine region Mendoza and around capital Buenos Aires, has seen small groups of people break into stores, stealing food and other items, according to a Reuters witnesses, state TV and officials.