Economist Pedro Monreal Points Out a ‘Statistical Blackout’ in Official Cuban Data

14ymedio, Havana, 14 March 2024 — The balance sheet for Internal Trade in Cuba for 2023, published by the Government this Wednesday, provided only one statistic for the sector: 70% of the construction materials delivery plan was met. The rest of the meeting consisted of an accumulation of “enigmatic formulations, abundant exhortations, a drought of … Continue reading “Economist Pedro Monreal Points Out a ‘Statistical Blackout’ in Official Cuban Data”

Gas Stations Closed and Others With Long Lines Before the New Prices of March 1

14ymedio, Havana, 28 February 2024 After being postponed due to an alleged cyber attack on the state financial company Cimex, two days before the dismissal of the Minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil Fernández, the new fuel prices, public transport and electricity rates will go into effect on March 1. Havana residents were trying to refuel … Continue reading “Gas Stations Closed and Others With Long Lines Before the New Prices of March 1”

Cubans and Tourists Are Without Bread Until the End of March, Despite a Donation of Russian Wheat

14ymedio, Havana, 25 February 2024 — Once again, there is no bread in Cuba due to a lack of flour. The “complex situation,” as defined by the official press, will last until the end of March, according to Emerio González Lorenzo, president of the Food Industry Business Group. Although the state media say that the … Continue reading “Cubans and Tourists Are Without Bread Until the End of March, Despite a Donation of Russian Wheat”

Poverty in Cuba Surpasses the Worst Moment of the ‘Special Period’

14ymedio, Madrid, February 12, 2024 — Cuba has fallen thirty places in the Human Development Index (HDI) prepared by the United Nations in just 15 years and is at risk of moving from the group of States at a high level to a medium level, which would mean a severe blow for the Government, which … Continue reading “Poverty in Cuba Surpasses the Worst Moment of the ‘Special Period’”

The Cuban Government Defends Waste in Tourism Even if It Doesn’t Benefit Other Sectors

14ymedio, Madrid, February 7, 2024 — A few hours before the start of State TV’s Round Table program, where the Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda, was scheduled to attend, the Cuban economist Pedro Monreal asked a very direct question on the social platform X. “Could the Minister of Tourism report the rates of … Continue reading “The Cuban Government Defends Waste in Tourism Even if It Doesn’t Benefit Other Sectors”

While the Euro Reaches 300 Cuban Pesos, the Government Keeps Going in the Same Direction

14ymedio, Havana, 6 February 2024 — The regime’s concern about the current crisis has led the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba to once again publish the Economy section, which will appear in Granma on a weekly basis. Its first article, signed by Joel Ernesto Marill Domenech, author of several texts with proposals … Continue reading “While the Euro Reaches 300 Cuban Pesos, the Government Keeps Going in the Same Direction”

‘The Problem Is Not the Ministers, It Is a Failed Model’ Summarizes a Cuban Economist

14ymedio, Havana, 3 February 2024 — The discreet headline about the dismissal of three Cuban ministers that remained on the front page of Granma since yesterday has been overshadowed, this Saturday, by a triumphant photo of Prime Minister Manuel Marrero and the announcement of a “complex meteorological situation for Sunday and Monday.” But while the official … Continue reading “‘The Problem Is Not the Ministers, It Is a Failed Model’ Summarizes a Cuban Economist”

As the Dollar Approaches 300 Pesos, the Cuban Government Talks About ‘Intervening’ in the Informal Market

14ymedio, Madrid, 30 January 2024 — Economic reforms are coming together for the Cuban Government, which is expected to announce changes in the foreign exchange market this February. In the first Council of Ministers session held this year, the Minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil, set an immediate date on a priority issue for the country, … Continue reading “As the Dollar Approaches 300 Pesos, the Cuban Government Talks About ‘Intervening’ in the Informal Market”

Cuban Government Announces Delivery of Chicken Destined for Ration Stores

14ymedio, Madrid, 16 January 2024 — Just as the government was triumphantly boasting of the arrival of a ship laden with chicken destined for distribution to consumers through Cuba’s ration system, figures on poultry imports from the United States in November were being released. After two months of steep declines, sales in this sector doubled, … Continue reading “Cuban Government Announces Delivery of Chicken Destined for Ration Stores”

Despite the Massive Arrival of Canadians and Russians, Tourism Has Not Picked Up in Cuba

14ymedio, Madrid, January 17, 2024 — Cuba closed the year 2023 certifying its inability to recover the tourism it had before the COVID-19 pandemic. With a final figure of 2,436,980 international visitors, the Island achieves 151% more than in 2022, but 42.8% less than in 2019. In addition, if compared to its aspirations, 3.5 million … Continue reading “Despite the Massive Arrival of Canadians and Russians, Tourism Has Not Picked Up in Cuba”

Cuban Authorities Announce Price Increases of More Than 500 Percent for Regular Gasoline and Diesel

14ymedio, Madrid, 9 January 2024 — Fuel on the Island will quintuple in price starting February 1st. But Cubans, always thinking ahead, are more afraid of the dangers to come. These include even larger price increases on the black market and shortages at service centers, especially for those paying in Cuban pesos (CUP) rather than … Continue reading “Cuban Authorities Announce Price Increases of More Than 500 Percent for Regular Gasoline and Diesel”

Cuban Gasoline Set to Rise to 200 Pesos a Liter, 250 for Diesel, while Service Stations Await the Go-Ahead

14ymedio, Pedro Espinosa and Juan Matos, Camajuaní/Manzanillo | 2 January 2024 — The impacts of the new macro-economic readjustment measures that the government announced at the end of the year have yet to be felt at Cuban filling stations. During visits to several of the island’s gas stations, reporters from 14ymedio found that employees of … Continue reading “Cuban Gasoline Set to Rise to 200 Pesos a Liter, 250 for Diesel, while Service Stations Await the Go-Ahead”

Cubans to Pay More for Gasoline in 2024 While Tourists Will Pay in Dollars

EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 2 January 2024 — One of Cuba’s biggest economic reform measures in decades will take effect in 2024, raising prices for energy, water, natural gas and petroleum and ending the universal food subsidy. While stressing that its plan will not affect the poorest segments of the population, the government has highlighted … Continue reading “Cubans to Pay More for Gasoline in 2024 While Tourists Will Pay in Dollars”

The Dominican Republic Received 10 Million Tourists This Year, Cuba Just Over 2 Million

14ymedio, Madrid, 27 December 2023 — Ariana Guilak got off an American Airlines flight from Miami this Tuesday in Punta Cana and found a surprise. David Collado, Minister of Tourism of the Dominican Republic, and Frank Rainieri, businessman of the founder of the Punta Cana Group, were waiting for her at the foot of the … Continue reading “The Dominican Republic Received 10 Million Tourists This Year, Cuba Just Over 2 Million”

Cases of Theft and Slaughter of Livestock in Cuba Have Increased by 360 Percent in Two Years

14ymedio, Madrid, 22 December 2023 — It was expected that, among the results analyzed by Parliament, those of the agricultural sector would be the most regrettable. But expectations were, once again, exceeded, in particular when the collapse of livestock was known due to theft and slaughter, almost twice as much as last year and 360% … Continue reading “Cases of Theft and Slaughter of Livestock in Cuba Have Increased by 360 Percent in Two Years”