Summary
Highlights
Venezuela concluded 2025 with the world's highest inflation rate at 475%, a brutal acceleration attributed to uncontrolled exchange rates stemming from intensified US sanctions against Nicolás Maduro. The Central Bank of Venezuela released this data, marking the first public report in over a year, contradicting a prior report of a near 9% economic growth in 2025 driven by oil activity.
Venezuelans commonly complain that their incomes are insufficient due to low salaries and the extremely high cost of basic goods like food and medicine. The average income falls between $100 and $300 monthly, far below the approximately $500 private estimates suggest are needed to cover the basic food basket. This disparity highlights a significant economic hardship among the populace.
Inflation rates for specific sectors were astronomically high in Venezuela during 2025: food and beverages rose by 532%, education by 570%, rents by 340%, and health by 445%. A citizen highlighted the plight of seniors unable to afford necessary medicines, with a single pill costing 7,000 bolivares against a monthly income of 130 bolivares, showing the devastating impact on essential needs.
Merchants are protesting a significant drop in sales, while union leaders claim that labor benefits have virtually disappeared over the past decade. They criticize both the government and the business sector, with business owners questioning the sustainability of their operations if they continue to incur losses rather than profits, hinting at potential closures.
For 2024, Maduro reported a 48% inflation rate, though no official report was issued, contradicting the IMF's statement that Venezuela had the highest price increase globally last year. Experts, however, project a lower inflation rate for 2026, estimated between 100% and 200% annually. The US government has gradually lifted sanctions, and interim President Delsy Rodríguez is推动石油改革，并宣布恢复与美国的外交关系。