For the third consecutive month, the price of the urban basic food basket (CBA) fell by 1.4% in October after being set at $245.7, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and Censuses (Onec).
The institution reports that the food basket was reduced by $3.51 in the urban area compared to the $249.25 it cost in September and was placed at its lowest price since January 2023, 21 months ago.
CBA also marks a reduction of $11.8 compared to the $257.6 it cost in October 2023 and distanced itself from last July’s peak when it reached $264.9, amid a price crisis over crop damage.
Also, the price of the rural basket fell $0.87 after going from $176.2 in September to $175.3 in October. According to the Onec register, the food basket in this region was placed at its lowest value since September 2022.
They lower the vegetables, but the tortillas go up.
The food basket is composed of basic foods in sufficient quantities to cover at least the energy and protein needs of a family. El Salvador’s methodology has been in force since 1983, which makes a difference between urban CBA because it has 11 products, including vegetables and French bread, while rural ones only have nine products.
In October, in the urban area there was a reduction in the rations of rice and fats – oil, margarine and vegetable butter – as well as in fruits – orange, banana and guineo-; beans and vegetables -pa, onion, green chili, tomato, gypsy and cabbage.
ONEC reports that there were increases in French bread rations, tortillas, meats -res, pork and bird – and sugar. Meanwhile, eggs and fluid milk showed no variation.
In rural areas, the institution found that there were increases in rations of tortillas, meat and sugar. The reductions were documented in rice, fats, eggs, fruit and beans, while fluid milk remained unchanged.
This article was translated after appearing in Diario El Mundo