Posted on 12/23/2017 2:38:04 PM PST by Steely Tom
Retailers report low sales. According to the National Assembly, Venezuela could close this year with an inflation of 2000%.
Little streets decorated by the holiday party and citizens looking for the cheapest prices to bring something home. This is how the streets of Caracas look like on Christmas Day.
In a survey conducted by El Nacional Online, the people of Caracas expressed the challenge of celebrating the holiday season. They indicated that this year will be different from the previous ones due to the economic situation that Venezuela is enduring.
"On the 24th I'm going to sit down and talk to the guard and then go to sleep. What else can I do if the situation does not give one to celebrate something? The hallacas (corn dough stuffed with a stew of beef, pork, and chicken, fish or other seafoods) are very expensive and the ham bread is not even worth talking about," said a woman from Caracas while walking on the Chacaíto Boulevard.
Citizens admit that this year they will have to choose between the Christmas dinner, brand new clothes or give a gift or reduce spending on one of them. Others have no option in spite of government deliveries.
With inflation that could close this year at 2,000% according to the National Assembly, the minimum wage at 177,507 bolívares (53 dollars according to the official exchange rate), Venezuelans are in a more complicated situation than at Christmas 2016.
"I will not do anything because there is no money. Right now I'm going to work and I have not even had breakfast, "said Mrs. Carmen González to El Nacional Online.
The salary and the labor benefits did not allow the Venezuelans to carry out their usual Christmas purchases due to the high costs. Traders have reported low sales during the season compared to other years.
"December, which in any part of the world is considered the month of greatest commercial boom, is no longer the same because simply and clearly the income of Venezuelans in this month did not allow them to buy anything," he said for EFE Carolina agency Uzcátegui, president of the National Council of Commerce and Services (Consecomercio).
In spite of the situation that afflicts Venezuelan society, the desires of the respondents by El Nacional Online for the year 2018 are of optimism, hoping that the next year brings better economic conditions.
They still have retailers?
And who did they vote for?
Send all of liberals there so they can feel the love living under socialism
The guy who promised to pick their neighbor's pockets for them.
LETS SET UP A GO FUND ME PAGE FOR THE DISENCHANTED CRY BABIES IN THIS COUNTRY
Caracas, once the jewel of the Caribbean coast of South America. Just as Havana was once the economic hub of the Caribbean. The utter blindness of worshipers of Karl Marx is amazing.
When, as a child, I lived in Caracas, Christmas was like the USofA Independence Day, lots and lots of fireworks. Now, I am forced to believe, it is just another day to survive! To blame the populace for ‘electing’ Hugo Chavez is to mis the point, there is/was a failure to show a benefit to capitalism and democracy. The elites sought to retain their comfort and privileges at the expense of the rest of the population. Chavez played that anger into power and like Napoleon, kept that horse muzzled and subservient. I firmly believe that this current situation will not last, it is too unstable and someone in the military will seize the day and throw out Maduro. I pray that he will be better, but I have no certainty of that hope!
Oh, puleese. As if it costs a dime to dig out last year’s decorations and put them up.
Christmas is not about buying new clothes. It’s about Jesus. Go to church on Monday.
Chile and what happened there might be a guide.
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