The Government of El Salvador, through the Consumer Protection Agency (DC), has ruled out any current conditions that would justify price increases in the basic food basket, affirming its continued commitment to protecting household economies across the country.

Ricardo Salazar, president of the Consumer Protection Agency, confirmed that recent inspections conducted across supermarket chains and other suppliers have shown stable prices and consistent availability of essential food products. These efforts are part of an ongoing national strategy to prevent speculation, hoarding, and unjustified price increases.

“There should be no reason for price increases; on the contrary, our government continues working to stabilize prices,” said Salazar. He emphasized that the current inflation rate in El Salvador is approximately 0.1%, the lowest in the region. “Even in terms of food prices, El Salvador is the only country in the region with a negative annual rate of change,” he added.

The DC will progressively extend inspections to wholesale stores and public markets to ensure the same standards apply nationwide. To date, over 10,000 inspections have been conducted, leading to 101 sanctions totaling $421,000 in fines, particularly in sectors like dairy, basic grains, oils, and eggs.

Salazar also highlighted that the recent minimum wage increase supports the purchasing power of Salvadorans, reinforcing the government’s integrated approach to economic stability.

The public is encouraged to report any commercial establishment or supplier engaging in price speculation or unjustified markups, as such behavior remains subject to legal sanction. Obstructing inspection work may also incur fines of up to 500 times the minimum wage.