Venezuelans throng grocery stores under military protection
Lines are swelling at Venezuelan supermarkets, with some shoppers showing up before dawn in search of products ranging from chicken to laundry detergent, as a holiday slowdown in deliveries sharpened the nation’s nagging product shortages.
Queues snaked around the block at grocery stores and pharmacies around the country on Friday, with consumers in some cases gathering before dawn under the gaze of National Guard troops posted to maintain order.
Venezuela’s 12-year-old exchange control system has for several years struggled to provide enough hard currency to ensure adequate levels of imports, leading to intermittent shortages of raw materials, machine parts and consumer goods.
Economists believe Maduro’s economic reforms will include a devaluation of the bolivar currency, which makes imported goods more expensive and has historically pushed the inflation rate higher.
Consumer prices rose 64 per cent in the 12 months to November.
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