Even as the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) demands action against price-gouging resellers and urges the establishment of wholesale markets in Granma, the government's own policies and a lack of supply alternatives continue to trap both merchants and consumers in a price crisis that authorities acknowledge but have yet to resolve.
During a routine meeting of the PCC’s Provincial Committee held in Bayamo, Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló, the first secretary for the eastern region, criticized the actions of vendors who "sell anything anywhere," thus inflating prices beyond established controls.
Yanetsy Rodríguez Sampson, a member of the Provincial Bureau, emphasized that a viable solution involves promoting wholesale markets to facilitate supply to economic actors and reduce their reliance on middlemen, according to a report from the official newspaper, La Demajagua.
This call for wholesale markets follows the government's June decision to lift price caps on basic goods such as chicken, oil, powdered milk, pasta, and sausages, as per Resolution 150/2026 from the Ministry of Finance and Prices.
As a result, prices have surged dramatically. For instance, oil, which had a regulated maximum price of 990 pesos per liter, skyrocketed to over 4,000 pesos by August, with spikes reaching up to 7,000 pesos in some areas.
The eastern province of Granma still lacks a wholesale market from the Abasto.cu network, like the one opened on October 11 in Sancti Spíritus, the first of its kind in the country. There, a minimum purchase of $200 or 24,000 Cuban pesos is required.
Rodríguez acknowledged that although the economic reforms pushed by the authorities show progress, they remain "insufficient," cautioning that "each unmet goal represents a debt to the people."
Meanwhile, Granma Governor Yanetsy Terry Gutiérrez stressed that business autonomy is not "an option" but a necessity. She also criticized companies that merely lease premises to pay salaries without launching new productive activities. "The easiest thing is to rent out spaces and pay workers with that, but where is the development?" she questioned.
Reports of intermediaries and resale practices are not confined to Granma but extend to other parts of the country. In September, residents of Cojímar, Havana, reported that resellers were hoarding much of the production from a state bakery to sell at exorbitant prices.
The official press also published an investigation questioning who truly sets prices in Cuba, citing examples like a bag of milk costing 6,500 pesos in one spot and 4,500 in another within the same city of Matanzas.
Additionally, Cubans have questioned the government's role in the escalating prices and an economic model that, in their view, benefits intermediaries while leaving consumers vulnerable to ever-increasing rates.
Criticisms include the lack of domestic production to compete with imported goods, investment challenges, and the absence of stable legal guarantees for businesses. The issue is perceived not just as a reseller problem but also as one involving state policies and economic conditions that allow speculation to thrive.
Furthermore, citizens argue that authorities focus price controls on private businesses while state-run stores selling in dollars and MLC maintain prices deemed unaffordable by much of the population. They demand oversight of these establishments as well.
The complaints highlight the state's responsibility, which not only regulates the market but also runs a network of stores with reported markups of up to 300% over original prices, drawing comparisons to destinations like Dubai despite the low income of many Cuban workers.
The PCC meeting in Granma also covered other economic projects, including rice cultivation by a Vietnamese entity in Yara and the production of 5,000 tons of sugar at the Enidio Díaz Machado plant, in partnership with a private company.
At the meeting's conclusion, Ortiz Barceló asserted, "The Party's role is not to better explain the crisis, but to act to overcome it," acknowledging that the outcomes of the reforms continue to fall short of expectations.
Understanding Cuba's Price Crisis and Government Response
Why are prices rising so dramatically in Cuba?
Prices in Cuba are soaring due to the removal of price caps on essential goods, limited supply options, and economic policies that have allowed market speculation to flourish.
What role do resellers play in Cuba's economic crisis?
Resellers in Cuba contribute to the economic crisis by buying up goods and reselling them at inflated prices, exacerbating the already high cost of living for consumers.
How is the Cuban government addressing the issue of price gouging?
The government is calling for the creation of wholesale markets to reduce reliance on intermediaries and is urging businesses to adopt greater autonomy, although these measures are still seen as insufficient.
What are the criticisms of the Cuban government's handling of the economy?
Critics argue that the government has failed to establish a robust domestic production base, provide stable legal frameworks for business, and control state-run stores that maintain high prices, contributing to economic instability.