Merchants Increasing Prices Unjustifiably Will Face Fines of Up to 200 Minimum Wages.
In an effort to protect the economy and the well-being of Salvadoran families, authorities from the Consumer Protection Agency (DC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, have intensified the verification of basic food basket prices in major supermarket chains and markets such as La Tiendona.
These actions aim to prevent speculation and unjustified price increases and are conducted nationwide across all supply points. During an inspection at La Tiendona, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Óscar Domínguez, found some merchants had increased the price of vegetables, including potatoes.
«They said ‘Taxes have gone up in Guatemala,’ ‘There’s no production,’ ‘I was sold at a high price,’ as excuses when we identified irregularities in potato prices at La Tiendona. I spoke with Guatemalan authorities, and they denied any tax increase,» Domínguez stated.
He added that the DC issued a requirement for these merchants to present justifications for their prices. «We hope they do not attempt to deceive us, as we have their declared prices and know the entry price of these products,» he warned.
Authorities reiterated that merchants who have increased prices unjustifiably could face fines of up to 200 minimum wages.
«This is a message for unscrupulous merchants: do not play with the prices of the basic food basket. For those doing things right, thank you for keeping us informed. Your honesty should be an example. We remain vigilant and constantly monitor the situation,» Domínguez said.
Meanwhile, the President of the Consumer Protection Agency, Ricardo Salazar, emphasized, «In the midst of this emergency, we will not tolerate any form of speculation or unjustified price increases for these essential products. The supply conditions are optimal nationwide, and our borders are experiencing free flow,» he highlighted.