Consumer prices had a variation of 6.82% in February of this year, compared to the same month of the previous year.  In other words, products and services consumed by households are no longer rising at an accelerated pace, as a whole (according to the general index).

In the face of food increases, the Central Government explains that it has intervened immediately to offer alternatives both to producers who obtain their raw materials abroad and to consumers.

In other cases there are subsidies, which benefit the most vulnerable sectors, so that they can maintain their consumption levels.

At the same time, the Defensoría del Consumidor and the Dirección General de Energía, Hidrocarburos y Minas carry out periodic verifications to identify possible abuses in the commercialization of essential goods.  Citizen complaints have been key to undertake investigations against suppliers who try to take advantage of people.

The reductions have been progressive.

The BCR added that there was also less cost pressure compared to january 2023 (monthly variation).

With these results, despite a complicated international environment, El Salvador is among the countries in the region with lower inflation levels, the Bank noted.  Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua have faster rates of price increases.

Translated by: A.M