The province of Artemisa joined this Wednesday the price control measures implemented across several Cuban provinces, with the entry into force of the , issued by Governor Ricardo Concepción Rodríguez, which establishes a maximum commercial margin of 30% for both wholesale and retail sales by all economic actors in the territory.
The regulation, unlike some measures applied in other territories, establishes that the maximum commercial margin of 30% will be applied only once in the wholesale and retail marketing process, calculated on the total cost of the product, without any additional margin being added in subsequent stages of marketing.
The formula, however, overlooks that in an economy marked by inflation, acquisition costs may continue to rise, so if the margin cannot be readjusted, some products could become unprofitable and end up disappearing from the network of establishments.
The measure immediately sparked a avalanche of public criticism focused on several specific points: unlike Villa Clara, Matanzas, or Pinar del Río, the Artemisa resolution does not publish any reference price lists for products nor the duration of its validity.
"How can citizens know if this resolution is being violated? The population has no way to verify that the advertised price matches what has been established, so it goes back to square one: they declare whatever they want as the cost, apply the 30%, and then it's too late to complain. Prices are sky-high and everything is in order. Artemisa goes about its business," wrote the user Dayami Duque Torres.
The absence of concrete figures makes the regulation meaningless for many residents of Artemisa: "And who monitors that?" Angelo Di Liceo asked succinctly.
Manuel Silvio Menéndez was more direct: "And how do you plan to ensure that this resolution is enforced? With inspectors. Don't make me laugh."
In Güira de Melena, a municipality within the same province, a citizen claimed in the comments that oil continued to be sold for 4,000 Cuban pesos in local small and medium-sized enterprises, a statement that reflects doubts about the immediate impact of the resolution on market prices.
The skepticism regarding the actual effectiveness of the resolution was summed up in Ernesto Rodríguez's comment: "They are going to run into the same old problems; prices are capped, products disappear... and then they reappear at double or triple the price. They never tire of stumbling over the same stone."
Livia Herrera acknowledged that Artemisa is "the only governor who has articulated a defined commercial margin," but she added the condition that encapsulates the general sentiment: "now it is necessary to have control."
The Artemisa measure is part of a national trend that accelerated in the early days of August.
Villa Clara set margins and specific prices last Friday; Matanzas followed suit days later with reference prices for oil, chicken, rice, and eggs; and Pinar del Río established the maximum retail price of oil at 2,150 pesos.
This Wednesday, Holguín also announced that it will monitor to ensure the margin does not exceed 30% on basic products, although it clarified that this "is not capping prices."
The provincial movement clashes head-on with the 176 economic measures that the National Assembly approved in June 2026, among which was the partial liberalization of prices and the elimination of administrative controls.
Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged that price caps "caused shortages" and announced the end of that widespread policy.
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