The trend of increasing costs in vegetables and fruits begins with winter. Cabbage is the one that reflects the greatest increase, its cost in some areas of the country exceeds 100 córdobas. In the department of Estelí it is priced at up to 130 córdobas, on the Caribbean Coast it is bought at up to 150 córdobas and in Ocotal its value reaches up to 170 córdobas, confirm consumers.
In just one month, this product, according to merchants consulted, went from costing 50 or 60 córdobas to reaching the highest price at which it has been sold in recent years.
Related news: Slight decrease in the price of the basic basket in Nicaragua: only 19 córdobas less
Some fruits also experience significant increases. The lemon per unit, for example, went from costing 3 cordobas to 5 cordobas. The increase occurred in just two weeks. Consumers indicate that they choose to stop consuming these products that hit the economy of their homes.
Other products with high prices
This week, the Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce recognizes the increase in products such as the box of large and medium eggs, chicken leg, cabbage and potatoes, without giving further details of the increase.
Cheese is also threatening to rise in price. This was confirmed by producers from the dry corridor, who emphasize that the lack of rain in that area forces them to raise the cost of a pound of cheese to 8 córdobas. Last week this product was quoted between 65 and 70 córdobas per pound, in the markets of the capital.
Blow for food merchants
These increases affect the owners of restaurants and fry-ups that use cabbage to prepare their meals. Stopping buying them is not an option, which is why some point out that the alternative is to reduce the portions, just as they do with cheese, which still maintains an inaccessible cost.
Recently, the National Institute of Development Information (INIDE) published a table on the prices of the products that make up the basic basket, which reflects a minimum drop of 20 córdobas in the total cost of the family basket, which already exceeds 19 thousand cordobas.
Product prices go up. The national food basket is quoted at more than 19,000 córdobas, while the minimum wage is barely enough to cover half of the basic basket, and in some economic sectors, it is barely possible to buy a third part.
