BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) – Argentine economists vow to resist a government crackdown on their independent inflation estimates and accuse President Cristina Fernandez of trying to silence critics before October’s election.
The methods used by the consulting firms, which report inflation at more than double the official rate, are being picked apart by the same state statistics office accused of fudging figures since 2007.
The consultants face fines of up to 500,000 pesos (about $120,000) if the government decides the publication of their figures violates a law on deceptive commercial practices.
“It’s an election year and the inflation issue is
