Lower Increases in Food Prices
The prices of basic food products have kept on rising, but they are doing so at a slower pace than last year, according to the National Statistics and Census Bureau (INEC in Spanish).

According to the data available, in June 2005 basic food products had increased 22 percent as compared to June 2004, but this year the increase through June was 11 percent as compared to the preceding one.

Analysts point out that this trend favors the poor.

However, the list of products of the so-called basic basket includes the minimum amounts of food required to satisfy the calories needed by the average person in the country, but they are not an ideal diet, just the necessary minimum.