According to information published last week by the Central Bank, the Price of the products and services which make up the family basket for the poorest in the country registered the highest increase during the last year.
Over the last 12 months the most basic basket has risen in price from RD$13,220.72 in March 2017 to RD$13,783.77 at the end of March this year.
On analyzing the increase, economist Miguel Collado Di Franco said that it is obvious this will cause a major impact in the homes of families with the highest level of poverty.
The main reason for the increase was a 5.3% spike in food prices plus alcoholic beverages which have increased by 6.2% in the year, followed by 4.5% increase in transport and housing is also up by 4.2%.
There are different family baskets depending on social strata with the average costing RD$30,149.07 at the end of March this year. However those in the highest social class spend more with the basket costing RD$61,586.58. Those in the level below pay RD$31,461.53 that is an increase of 3.9% over the last year, and the level below that pay RD$24,119.01. The second lowest basket is at RD$19,661.61.
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Diario Libre
17 April 2018
