A Cuban identified as Odelkis Nápoles posted a video on Facebook in which she harshly questions the relentless rise in prices of basic goods such as oil, chicken, and ground meat, and denounces that many private businesses refuse to accept bank transfers or low-denomination bills, leaving families unable to purchase food.
The woman, who clarifies that she is speaking "for the first time" on the subject, points directly to the elimination of the so-called "artificial prices" — the maximum limits set by the State — as the trigger for the current crisis.
"Ever since they announced that they have removed the inflated prices and it's now based on free demand... all these problems have arisen," he states in the video.
The most concrete example provided is that of oil: "If oil was at 2,100 the day before yesterday, today it's already at 3,000. There is no brake anymore, there is no stop."
Nápoles points out that chicken, oil, and picadillo are the products most consumed in Cuba, and that it is precisely for this reason that it is incomprehensible that they have increased the most in price.
It adds that blackouts force Cubans to buy chicken in minimum quantities—three or four portions—to avoid spoilage, which makes any price increase even more serious.
The economic context supports their complaints. On June 20, 2026, the regime published in the Official Gazette the Resolution 150/2026 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices, which removed price caps on chopped chicken, cooking oils, powdered milk, pasta, and sausages. On July 16, the Gazette also lifted the cap on rice, which was set at 155 pesos per pound.
After those measures, the price of chicken packages increased from 3,000 to over 7,000 pesos in just a few days in some areas of the country, and the price of oil reached 2,500 pesos per liter in Havana, with spikes up to 3,000 pesos depending on the area.
The Cuban woman also highlights another issue affecting thousands of people: the refusal of private businesses, MIPYMES, and self-employed workers to accept bank transfers or 10, 20, and 50 peso notes. "Here, sometimes people go hungry because they won't accept transfers," she warns.
Despite the existence of a resolution that requires businesses to accept transfers without surcharges, compliance is practically nonexistent. Private businesses have stopped accepting small bills on a large scale, and only 3.77% of transactions in Cuba are digital.
Regarding the cigarettes, Nápoles also cannot find an explanation: "From 600, 580, 450 to 800 pesos... to a thousand pesos that they are selling now. I was left... it's just unfounded."
The official year-on-year inflation in Cuba was 18.27% in June 2026, although independent estimates place the real figure closer to 70%. The minimum wage effective from July 1, 2026 is 3,210 pesos, equivalent to less than five dollars at the informal exchange rate, making it practically impossible to cover the basic needs with state incomes.
Nápoles concludes his message with a reflection that encapsulates the helplessness of millions of Cubans: "I hope that one day a Cuban will open their eyes and say, I'm not going to buy anymore. The truth is that Cubans, out of necessity, have to buy."
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