Cuba implements reference prices for essential food products

Municipal and provincial authorities across Cuba are implementing reference prices for essential goods to combat rising food costs. In Songo-La Maya, officials have set reference prices of 2,500 Cuban pesos for one liter of oil and 110 pesos per egg. While these are described as values derived from cost evaluations rather than strict caps, businesses exceeding them face penalties including fines up to 60,000 pesos, confiscation of goods, or business suspension.

In Matanzas, authorities have established a commercial margin of up to 30 percent for wholesale and retail pricing. Reference prices in Matanzas include 2,500 pesos per liter for retail oil, 110 pesos per egg, 3,400 pesos per kilogram for powdered milk, and 400 pesos per pound for sugar. Other regulated items include sausages, chicken, pasta, and ground meat.

These local interventions follow a period of price liberalization by the central government. In June, the Ministry of Finance and Prices removed national price caps on several items, including oil, chicken, milk, and pasta, while the Council of Ministers lifted the cap on rice in July. The recent wave of municipal price fixation in regions such as Guantánamo, Holguín, and Villa Clara appears to be a response to public pressure and significant inflation.