Caracas lives payday in a shopping mall in the east of the city. The hallways are full. The windows display products. Poucos come out with bags. Muitos just looks at prices. An international lingerie store forms a queue after announcing discounts. The scene repeats itself even after the change in power in January.
The country has been going through transition since January 3rd. Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores were captured in a military operation by Estados Unidos in the capital. Delcy Rodríguez took over as interim president. The government announced American Tesouro sanctions relief on Banco Central and other institutions. Diálogos with Fundo Monetário Internacional and Banco Mundial resumed.
Expectativas highs after one hundred days of management
Delcy Rodríguez has completed more than 100 days in office. In a speech on April 19, she recognized the population’s hopes. Citou GDP growth close to 9% and 20 consecutive quarters of expansion. Afirmou that the advance should generate more jobs and income in the coming months. Oil production is at 1.1 million barrels per day. Reformas in the laws of Hidrocarbonetos and Mineração seek to attract investments with clear rules.
- Empresas foreign women showed interest in oil and mining sectors
- Sanções on banks have been relaxed to facilitate integration into the global market
- Créditos in store apps have become common for installment purchases
- Concessionárias of vehicles gain space with dollar offers
- Bodegones, import stores, lose viability and close
The monthly minimum wage remains at 130 bolivars, equivalent to around 0.27 dollars. Três months of earnings don’t add up to a whole dollar. Preços of food and fuel prices rise quickly. A kilo of meat costs between 7 and 10 dollars. Muitos choose between medicine and food.
Inflação still presses everyday
Annual inflation reached 650% in March, according to data from Venezuela’s Banco Central. Consumidores rush to spend bolivars before they lose value. Restaurantes open and close within a few months. Lojas closed appear in various parts of the city. Orçamentos family limits proteins on the table.
A recent protest drew attention. Ángel García, a construction technician with 38 years of public service, carried a large bone in his hands. Ele symbolized the difficulty of purchasing even basic items. Idosos and public servants report daily difficult choices. A 71-year-old person, who did not want to be identified, said that he buys medicine or food, but not both.
Delcy Rodríguez promised, on April 8th, a responsible salary adjustment until Dia of Trabalhador, on May 1st. Ela cited gradual stabilization of the economy. Economistas like former deputy José Guerra believe that 100 days are not enough for profound changes. Ele advocates stabilizing the exchange rate and containing inflation as initial steps. Efeitos more senses should come in the second half of 2026.
Business Adaptação reveals contrasts
Comerciantes adjust operations. A bodegón owner plans to switch to household items. Ele considers the old model unsustainable. The automotive sector, on the other hand, is gaining momentum. Concessionárias multiply with promises of private credit in dollars, accessible to few. The vehicle fleet aged in the previous crisis.
In shopping malls, the use of small credit apps predominates. Clientes offers everything from hamburgers to household appliances. Previous Hiperinflação left few with access to traditional cards. Bancos maintains high reserve requirements. The population feels cautious optimism about reforms, but their pockets still do not register a clear difference.
Perspectiva of investments and challenges
The interim government highlights openness to external capital. Aumento offering dollars for Banco Central helped reduce exchange rate distortions. Especialistas predict that investments in oil and mining will take time to generate jobs at scale. Crescimento projected for 2026 depends on political stability and continuity of measures.
Moradores of Caracas report full shelves but low purchasing power. Protestos for better salaries appear in different neighborhoods. The political transition generated expectations. Resultados concrete features in everyday life still take a long time to appear for most.
