DINERO.COM.SV has been warning during the last months about increases in several products of the basic food basket, long before fuel prices were increased, and it is due to the international increase in commodities prices, that is, prices of raw materials used to manufacture several food products or daily use products.

For example, according to data provided by the Dirección General de Estadísticas y Censos (DIGESTYC) as we have reported, the basic food basket has suffered certain increases, especially in the cost of bread and tortillas.

Thus, tortillas have been arriving at homes with at least the same price, but not with the same size, the same happens with the "French" bread where you continue to receive 8 loaves for a dollar, but in smaller size, this is known as reduflacion. In the markets, this phenomenon has been seen in the delivery of vegetables, the smaller ones are still given the same amount for the same prices, but those that have better size, are delivered in smaller quantity or the price is increased, this is the case of tomatoes, potatoes, among others.

We went to the Defensoría del Consumidor (DC) to ask if they in their routine inspections had detected reduction in the sizes of some products to deliver for the same price; but we are still waiting for the data.

On the subject of basic grains, the representative of the Asociación CAMPO, Luis Treminio, points out that although the prices of agricultural inputs have increased, the current price is that of the previous harvest, there is no reason to have high prices (these are called speculation); what is expected is that with the purchase of expensive inputs today, next year's harvest will be more expensive.