Price increases as high as 27.3% were recorded on basic consumer products this week as reported by Listin Diario. The list includes toothpaste, herring, beans, yellow cheese, detergents and soap, pasta and sardines. Tax Department (DGII) Director Juan Hernandez said that items that should increase in price as a result of the tax reform should not cost more than an additional 4% compared to their former price, particularly because the exchange rate commission is being excluded. Listin Diario carried out a survey in several stores and determined that toothpaste that used to cost RD$55, now costs RD$70, equivalent to a 27.3% increase. Herring increased from RD$55 to RD$70 per pound, cod from RD$80 to RD$85 per pound, red beans increased from RD$26 to RD$30 per pound and chicken went from RD$28 to RD$30 per pound. The latter two items are tax-exempt. Also tax-exempt is pasta which went up from RD$17 in December to RD$19 today, representing an 11.7% increase. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that many basic foodstuffs of agricultural origin began the week with lower prices. These include fruit and vegetables.