Mérida is among the five cities in Mexico with the highest inflation in basic products and services, up to the first week of the current month.
According to INEGI, some basic food products have had increases of up to 26 percent so far this year, directly affecting local consumers.
Among the products with the highest increases are electricity, fruits, vegetables, food in general, home rents, and services such as restaurants, transportation, and tourism. In addition, the end of the summer electricity rate subsidy in 11 cities, including Mérida, contributed to a 2.41 percent increase in energy and regulated rates at a biweekly rate.
The rise in prices of basic products and services continues to mark high inflation in November, reaching 7.64 percent annually, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). This increase threatens to close the year with a salary depreciation of up to 19 percent, which increases the pressure on workers’ income, especially those with the lowest salaries.
According to the National Consumer Price Index (INPC), corresponding to the first half of November, at the national level, the underlying price index, which excludes the most volatile products, rose 0.04 biweekly and 3.58 percent annually. Meanwhile, the non-core index, which includes agricultural, energy, and government tariffs, registered an increase of 1.44 biweekly and 7.64 percent annually, exceeding government forecasts of 3.4 percent.
The INPC details that the prices of agricultural products rose 0.25 percent biweekly, while gasoline, fuel, and car parts also registered moderate increases, further complicating the outlook for households.
Yucatan is among the states with the most expensive basic basket in Mexico; the cost exceeds 1,900 pesos
Although the minimum wage increased by 12 percent this year, the loss of purchasing power threatens to exceed that percentage, limiting the capacity to consume, particularly in food and essential goods.
The constant increase in the prices of basic inputs, combined with the depreciation of wages, projects a challenging year-end for Mexican families. Given this panorama, experts underline the urgency of measures that stop the inflationary escalation and protect the most vulnerable sectors of the population.
TYT Newsroom
