Supermarket sales increased between 15 % to 18% in the third quarter, compared with the same period of 2012, according to the chief executive of the National Association of Supermarkets, Luis Rodriguez.
He said the increase was seen in food products with regulated prices that make up the basic food basket, in addition to personal care and household cleaning products that also have low prices.
He recalled that the minimum wage had been increased in September, which had a positive impact on purchasing power.
"We talked about the supply of all the products that are available in supermarkets and so we concluded that the supply level is at 70 %," he added. He stated that the missing 30 % was comprised of very specific products that vary in the different categories of the basic food basket.
He also stated that the supermarket chains were working in partnership with the government to optimize the delivery and inventory of products that they manage so as to meet the needs of the consumers.
He said they were concerned about some opportunistic informal traders who were trading the basic basket products and selling them more expensively on the street. "There are people taking advantage of these products, buying them at supermarket chains and then reselling them at 2 to 4 times the price."
He also said that, at every meeting with the government, they were seeking to eliminate irregularities in the distribution, supply and sales chain.
Source: El- nacional.com