At Mercado Municipal N.º 1, traders say it is increasingly difficult to keep prices down for food served at the counter. The rise in gas and other basic inputs has been putting pressure on costs, and many establishments have already passed part of the increase on to consumers.
A consumer interviewed on site said that, faced with high prices, she usually orders a half portion to adjust her budget. According to her, the strategy helps her not to give up eating out, but the weekly expense has still increased.
On the sellers' side, cooks and workers in the sector face a dilemma: raise prices and risk losing customers, or absorb costs and reduce profit margins. The situation reflects a general squeeze on the cost of living, although many consumers still consider cooking at home a cheaper alternative.