Salvadoran drivers save $40 a month on fuel

For another fortnight, fuels will maintain the prices set in April as part of the anti-inflation measures implemented by President Nayib Bukele to contain the impact of the international crisis.

In this sense, the president also instructed the institutions to carry out price verifications on all the actors in the supply chain to guarantee that the benefits reach Salvadorans. In terms of fuels, more than 35,600 verifications have taken place.

The last of these actions was carried out yesterday and was carried out by the president of the Consumer Protection Office, Ricardo Salazar, and his team at a gas station in San Salvador.

“The stabilization of fuel prices is promoted for the sixth consecutive month and is one of the most important measures that have been promoted in order to amortize the impacts of the global price crisis,” said the official.

He explained that this measure has not only contained the escalation of product prices related to the increase in hydrocarbons and the cost overruns in terms of the transfer of goods, but has also meant significant savings in the price that consumers pay for each gallon of fuel.

“This action has allowed a significant saving of an average of $40 each month in Salvadoran families. These amounts can be increased depending on the number of vehicles that households may have,” Salazar explained.

To date, service stations are required to sell a gallon of superior gasoline in the center and west of the country for $4.31, and in the east of the country for $4.32. Meanwhile, regular gasoline is sold at $4.15 and diesel at $4.14, both of which are in force throughout the country in the self-service mode, according to the Ministry of Economy (Minec).

About the findings:

The head of the Ombudsman also pointed out that in these six months they have detected 165 cases of non-compliance that are being processed by the General Directorate of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Minec and whose fines can amount to up to $100,000.

In addition, in terms of food products, the government also reported that it has detected 290 findings of non-compliance due to both unjustified price increases and denial of information about these. Of these, 60 are already in the Sanctioning Court of the Consumer Ombudsman waiting for a resolution.