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A pound of frozen chicken is being sold in Contramaestre for 550 Cuban pesos (CUP), according to a user who reported it on Facebook, who cautioned: “I wouldn't be surprised if next week it hits 1000.”
The post, shared on social media and accompanied by an image showing pieces of chicken inside a bag, sparked dozens of reactions expressing concern over the ongoing rise in food prices in Cuba.
In the comments, several people questioned the actual weight of the product after thawing it. "When it thaws, you lose your ???," wrote one user, to which the author of the post replied, "exactly."
Another person stated, “I bought a 10-pound package and took out a jar of water, and it was missing 2 pounds and ounces. It's not enough that prices are so high and that there's no money; we are lost in this country.”
There were also references to prices in other provinces. "In Guantánamo at $600," noted another internet user, suggesting that the increase may not be an isolated incident.
Concern grew over the social impact of these prices: “What will happen to those who live off their paycheck?” asked one person. Another questioned: “Professor, and nothing is being done, where are the inspectors, the leaders? They seem like they don’t buy anything?! What do they live on then?” One comment summed up the general discontent: “Words fail, this is outrageous.”
Some messages also reflected the context of precariousness in other areas. “Our country can’t take any more, in my town here in Santa Rita we haven’t had water for days,” wrote another user.
The rise in chicken prices occurs in a context of persistent inflation. According to data published by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), the year-on-year variation rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in January was 12.52%, while the Food group saw a year-on-year increase of 12.5%. A recent analysis on the poor inflation data in January further notes that food prices have increased by 883.78% since 2010.
In this context, the price of 550 CUP per pound equates to 4,400 CUP for a package of eight pounds, a figure that is difficult for many Cuban households relying on state salaries or pensions to manage.
The complaint about the price of chicken in Contramaestre brings the discussion back to the forefront regarding access to basic food and the purchasing power of the population, amid an economic landscape characterized by the loss of purchasing power and a lack of stable supply in the market.
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