A price control operation carried out by the authorities in Camagüey has led to a flood of public criticism, with allegations about businesses closing or hiding goods in anticipation of inspectors, increasingly expensive basic products, and state-run stores in dollars that, according to residents, remain outside the scope of oversight.
The state media Radio Cadena Agramonte reported on Facebook that six teams of inspectors have been touring state and private establishments in the municipality since August 10, with the declared purpose of "achieving fairer prices and promoting the use of electronic payment channels."
Of the 45 establishments planned for the first phase, 11 could not be inspected because they were closed. Authorities identified 26 violations, primarily related to issues with documentation, incorrect use of electronic payment gateways, and deficiencies in cost sheets.
The official report itself acknowledged, however, one of the problems that most affects consumers: "there is still a limited availability of essential products such as chicken and oil."
"Everything is hidden."
The publication provoked numerous reactions from people in Camagüey who questioned the effectiveness of the operation and claimed that some merchants are aware of the inspections in advance, causing them to close their establishments or remove products until the checks are over.
"Everything is hidden for when the earthquake happens to screw you over," wrote a user.
Another summarized his skepticism about the outcome of the measure: "When they get bored, everything opens up again and life goes back to being the same, getting worse each day. It's all a theater, a façade, as always."
The figures shared by the citizens themselves reflect the magnitude of the problem for a population whose incomes have been losing purchasing power for years. In the comments, prices are mentioned ranging from 5,000 to 6,500 pesos for a liter of oil, 10-pound packs of chicken priced between 8,000 and 10,000 pesos, and eggs that can cost between 130 and 200 pesos each.
A neighbor cited the mipyme Kanga as an example, which, as she reported, announced during the operation an increase in the price of a carton of eggs, from 2,240 to 4,300 pesos.
"Congratulations, brave inspectors, we're making progress!" he scoffed.
"Who controls the state-owned stores in MLC and USD?"
Among the criticisms, a recurring demand stood out: why is the oversight concentrated on certain private businesses while state-run stores that sell in foreign currency maintain prices that are unaffordable for a significant portion of the population?
"Have you already been to the stores that accept USD?" asked a citizen.
"And who controls the State stores in MLC and USD? With prices similar to those in Dubai," questioned another user.
A neighbor specifically mentioned the German Center, located in Plaza de Maceo and belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). According to their complaint, the establishment only allows electronic payments of up to 3,000 pesos, “violating all established regulations,” without any action being taken by inspectors there, they claimed.
The criticisms reflect the discontent of many Cubans who consider there to be a double standard: while the State monitors private businesses and demands compliance with certain commercial regulations, it maintains an extensive network of establishments where it sells products in currencies that a significant portion of the population cannot access directly through their salaries.
Fear of further scarcity and the black market
Other citizens warned that tightening controls without addressing the causes of inflation could lead to the opposite effect of what is intended: fewer products in legal establishments and a greater presence of goods in the black market.
"If they continue with this crackdown, they will only cause everything to shift to the black market. Small traders are not the problem; rather, it is the government and its state-owned enterprises that do not compete and want to regulate the only legal economic actors that are in the arena," wrote a commentator.
The new operation arrives just two months after the Cuban government itself rolled back part of its national pricing policy.
On June 20, the Ministry of Finance and Prices eliminated price caps through Resolution 150/2026 for products such as chicken, oil, powdered milk, pasta, and sausages, after previous controls were associated with supply issues.
However, in response to the ongoing price escalation,
The decision has been questioned by Cuban economists, who have described these controls as "absurd", believing that they replicate policies that do not address the structural causes of inflation and may ultimately deepen scarcity. Independent estimates place the real inflation rate at around 70% per year.
As inspectors and merchants meet face to face again, the comments left on the post by Radio Cadena Agramonte show that a significant portion of public discontent is directed higher up.
"The citizen's complaint, the confrontation of Cuban against Cuban, that is what they have always adapted us to," summarized a resident of Camagüey. "They are not capable of solving the problems of the population; it is easier to pit us against each other."
The reaction summarizes the main question raised by the operation: controlling the price of a product does not guarantee that it will be available in the markets or that wages will be sufficient to purchase it.
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