Dominican Republic grapples with rising cost‑of‑living worries and soaring public debt

Recent surveys indicate that a majority of Dominicans are increasingly concerned about the high cost of living. According to ACD Media, 54 % view the national situation negatively and 42.3 % cite high living costs as the country's main problem, while 59.2 % say food expenses most impact family budgets. Gallup data show 62.9 % rate the economic situation as bad or very bad, and 57.7 % believe lower food prices would most help households.

Business leader and lawyer Guillermo Julián Jiménez warned that the country's public debt has accelerated, now exceeding US$66 billion for the central government and US$82.8 billion overall – about 61 % of GDP, with 72 % external. He called for transparent reporting on how loans are used and proposed a quarterly “Citizen Debt Dashboard” to track projects, spending and real outcomes, urging the government to demonstrate tangible benefits from borrowing.