CEDICE's basic basket reached $974.48 in September

The basic basket of 61 goods and services reached $974.48 in September, after recording monthly inflation of 12.05% in bolívares and 3.67% in foreign currency, according to the portal Banca y Negocios in a report released on October 15, 2026.

The increase was driven mainly by food, which rose 14.63% in local currency and 6.06% in dollars during the ninth month of the year, according to data from the Public Spending Observatory of Cedice Libertad reported by the outlet.

The cost of the basket requires coverage of 4.06 full salaries, calculated at 205,488.40 bolívares, which means setting aside the equivalent of one full salary per week only to cover the essential needs of a household of three people, the organization said.

In the regional analysis cited by the publication, Valencia consolidated its position as the most expensive city in the country, with an amount of $1,022.70 (875,083.36 bolívares), followed by Maracaibo with $1,000.20 (855,829.10 bolívares) and Caracas with $900.54 (770,556.32 bolívares).

Between January and September, cumulative inflation reached 242.87%, according to data published by El Nacional. For the close of 2026, IMF projections place annual inflation at 387.4%, a forward-looking indicator that reflects the persistence of macroeconomic distortions in purchasing power.