Maracaibo Food Basket Reports Rise in Bolívares: Increased 23.40% in January
The year 2026 began with a clear signal for Maracaibo households: acquiring the 47 basic products of the Food Basket defined by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) is more expensive in bolívares, while in foreign currency, it shows a moderate variation compared to December 2025. This is revealed by the most recent study by the Maracaibo Chamber of Commerce on the Standard Food Basket, which indicated that the domestic economy of the Zulia capital is trapped between inflation in national currency and apparent stability in foreign currency.
TL;DR
- The Standard Food Basket in Maracaibo cost Bs. 240,821 in January 2026, a 23.40% increase from December 2025.
- The same basket cost $656 in US dollars, with a monthly increase of only 0.16%.
- Year-on-year food price variation in bol ívares reached 750.17% between February 2025 and January 2026.
- Year-on-year food price variation in foreign currency reached 34.18% between February 2025 and January 2026.
- Some categories, like 'Meats and their preparations,' 'Roots, tubers, and others,' and 'Sugar and similar,' saw price increases in bolívares but decreases in US dollars.