According to figures from the Central Bank, the Dominican peso can now purchase 38.1% more now, compared to a year ago. This is the result of a much lower inflation rate, which has fallen from 32.88% a year ago to just 7.31% for 2005. In other words, a person with a salary of RD$20,000 per month in 2004 was losing RD$6,576 to inflation. In 2005 the same salary lost just RD$1,462, a saving of RD$5,114. While many products are, indeed, less expensive, there seems to be a perception on the streets that prices remain at their previous highs. This may be attributed in part to less cash flowing in the general economy.