Venezuela, Bolivia and Argentina with Higher Inflation Rates

Venezuela, Bolivia and Argentina are the countries in which most have raised food prices over the last year, according to official statistics from governments in the region to which it had access Efe.

Between January 2010 and March of this year, food prices were up 37.2% in Venezuela, well above the general inflation rate, which was 28.5%. It is followed by Bolivia, with a 14% rise in food and 8.4% overall, and Argentina, with 13.1% and 10.6% respectively.

Three other Latin American countries support inflation rates in this area more than two digits, Paraguay (12.3% on food and 7.8% overall), Nicaragua (11.2% and 8%) and Brazil (10.4% and 6%).

Of these six countries, Argentina, Brazil and Nicaragua are showing in the last time a brake on the rising trend, which however persists in Paraguay, Venezuela and Bolivia.

Annual food inflation was around twice the overall rate of consumer prices in Costa Rica (8.6% and 4.8%), Chile (5.5% and 2.7%) and El Salvador (6, 7% and 2.3%).

Among the countries with a high rate of growth in food prices there are some who are going through a phase of increases more widespread, such as Venezuela and Bolivia, and others who have had a significant increase in the food item that has dragged the index.

The information offered by the institutes of statistics of Latin American countries shows that in January slowed the upward trend of food prices. In Chile, Honduras and Nicaragua was even a decline.

And although overall could be considered that there was a trend break, however, experts advise caution and to consider longer periods, given the high volatility that record prices for these products in Latin America, a diverse region in terms of production and food consumption.

For food groups, in almost all countries have raised prices of bread, cereals and pastas, including tortillas, whose consumption is widespread in Mexico and Central America.

Also widespread increases in oils and fats, sugars, and seafood.