The cost of the basic food basket in Honduras continues to rise, according to a monthly report from the General Directorate of Salaries of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (STSS). From January to December 2023, the cost of the basic basket for a person increased from 2,337.26 to 2,448.02 lempiras per month, covering 30 basic consumer products including beef, pork, chicken, derivatives of milk, eggs, basic grains, fruits, vegetables, and vegetable oils. This represents an accumulated increase of 110.76 lempiras, equivalent to 4.73% from the previous year.
Experts consulted by EL HERALDO agree that with the current amount of money, a person must spend 81.60 lempiras daily, on average, to cover three meal times, but this is not enough to meet the requirement of 2,900 kilocalories. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH) reveals that last January the price indicator presented a monthly decrease of 0.13%, for the first time since May 2023.
The decrease in prices was attributed to the fall in the prices of basic grains, fruits, and vegetables, while items such as tomatoes, orange, mortadella, fresh and dry cheese experienced price increases. Despite this, the overall trend is a concerning rise in the cost of the basic food basket, making it increasingly challenging for people to afford a balanced diet.