Price Controls

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.

A northern Honduras fuel distributor says crude-oil prices will continue climbing for at least two weeks due to Middle East tensions, though he notes price controls are managed through international regulations to prevent sharp spikes in the basic basket and inflation.

Restaurants and comedores in the capital are selling tortillas for up to L2 (about $0.08) per unit, double the regulated maximum price of L1, while tortilla factories say they sell to retailers at L0.67, leaving consumer-protection authorities to enforce compliance.

Juliette Handal, president of the Patriotic and Solidarity Coalition, called on the government to meet with business sectors to prevent them from raising prices in response to fuel-cost pressures.

Honduras's consumer-protection committee (CODECOH) will begin price-monitoring raids in Tegucigalpa this week, warning that shops charging above official prices will face legal penalties.