Venezuela annual inflation rises to 57.3 pct in February
Baku, March 17 (AZERTAC). Venezuela's annual inflation rate rose to 57.3 percent in February, the central bank said on Friday, as violent opposition demonstrations during the month disrupted the economy.
The South American Opec nation, which has one of the world's highest rates of inflation, said that despite the protests inflation slowed on a month-on-month basis to 2.4 percent from 3.3 percent in January.
Demonstrators outraged over shortages of staple goods and soaring consumer prices have been staging protests and blocking roads since the middle of February to demand President Nicolas Maduro resign.
Maduro describes the soaring inflation as the result of an "economic war" led by opposition leaders and supported by ideological adversaries in Washington.
"These results came in the context of the economic war ... which had consequences for the distribution of consumer goods, limitations on the workday, and restriction of the hours of operation of commercial establishments," the bank said.
The cost of recreation and health services both jumped 4.1 percent from January, while the cost of restaurants and hotels rose 3.9 percent. Opposition leaders say the economic problems show the state-led economic model pioneered by late socialist leader Hugo Chavez has run out of steam.
Other news in this section
