“Venezuela’s Central Bank says prices have risen nearly 50 percent since last September as the country struggles to rein in a quickening rate of inflation and widespread shortages. The country’s leftist government has spent heavily on social programs, rapidly increasing the amount of currency in circulation. It also tries to control prices while restricting access to bolivars at the official rate of exchange of 6.3 per dollar. That leads many to pay seven times as much for dollars on the black market. Officials say speculators are to blame for soaring prices and shortages. The inflation rate for 2012 was 20.1 percent.”
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/venezuelan-inflation-rate-tops-49-percent-20541914
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