“Today we have begun a second and important effort (…) to carry out a series of investigations, A line of research into supermarket chains“, declared the head of the state Consumer Protection Agency, Ricardo Salazar, at a press conference.
On Sunday, Bukele announced that following cornering the gangs, he will fight the business “mafias” that They raise the prices of products and increase the cost of living.
Following the order of the president, they were presented “both information requirements“to the six main supermarket chains in the country, according to Salazar.
With the information that The supermarkets will provide the “respective analysis” within 10 days to “determine responsibility” for the price increase of around 68 basic basket products, he said.
“There are at this moment abrupt increase in prices, an increase that had never occurred in the history of our country“, Salazar said.
The @Defensoria_910 documented more than 60 cases of unjustified price increases for some basic basket products and obstruction of information, surveillance and inspection functions.
These will be reported to the Sanctioning Court in the next few hours. pic.twitter.com/JxVUPDn2vm
— El Salvador News 🇸🇻 (@NoticieroSLV) July 8, 2024
In most cases, The increase has been “more than 40%” in kitchen products including different varieties of tomato, onions, peppers, carrots and lettuce.
The authorities also opened an investigation into other basic basket products such as flour, milk, chicken meat and oil among others.
With the research The aim is to “combat speculation” and “prevent the hoarding of products” and “guarantee the purchasing power” of the population, explained Salazar.
Inside one of the supermarkets under investigation Some customers complain regarding the high price of food.
The price of Potatoes are “horribly expensive”Isabel Castillo, a 74-year-old retiree, told AFP, showing the two units she bought for $1.15.
The director of the Public Opinion Institute of the Central American University (UCA), Laura Andrade, told AFP that following improving the country’s security with the “war” launched by Bukele once morest gangs in March 2022, The most sensitive issue for the population is the high cost of living.
“Our latest research (from June) shows that the economy It is a latent concern that has a significant increase since the second year of this government’s management,” said Andrade.
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