Consumer Prices

Economic Development Minister Eddy Ordóñez warned merchants and producers that those unable to justify recent egg-carton price increases above 14 lempiras face fines of 1,000 to 10,000 minimum wages and possible month-long business closures.

After seven weeks of fuel price declines totaling 15–20 lempiras per gallon, Honduras's petroleum distributors say food and service prices have not fallen proportionally, while the government's consumer protection office reports that 16 basic-basket items did drop in Tegucigalpa markets.

A petroleum-industry analyst predicts diesel and gasoline prices in Honduras will drop modestly over the next four to six weeks as global crude stabilizes around $67 a barrel, with diesel potentially falling about 2 lempiras per gallon.

Rafael Medina, former head of Tegucigalpa's Chamber of Commerce, urged oil companies and transporters to pass falling global fuel prices to consumers quickly, noting that inflation jumped nearly 1.5 percentage points above year-ago levels partly because of earlier fuel-cost increases.

Consumer advocates project that adjustments to electricity tariffs will increase the price of Honduras's basic food basket by about 800 lempiras (roughly $32).

Experts warn that a recent increase in power tariffs will drive up costs for basic foods, dairy, meat, and other essentials, as 85–90% of consumer products rely on electricity in production and storage.

Twenty-one staple foods including butter, cheese, pasta, and beef ribs have fallen in price following five consecutive weeks of fuel reductions, as the Economy Ministry pushes over 16 industries to pass savings to consumers.

An economist at Fosdeh argues that recent declines in diesel prices justify revising public transport fares that were raised months ago as a temporary measure tied to fuel costs.