In Caracas, an atypical Christmas is unfolding, shaped by rising prices, a soaring dollar, and the pressure of holiday shopping. Local vendors and buyers describe the dynamic as «many people, but few sales». Prices vary significantly depending on the payment currency. «We quote in bolivars here,» one seller explained. However, as vegetable vendor Zulay Salazar told EFE, most customers pay by card, but prices are set in dollars and charged in bolivars at the official rate from the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV). So far in 2025, the bolívar has lost 84.8% of its value against the dollar. Despite this, toy seller Rafael Ayola said his business has «promotions in foreign currencies» but also accepts bolivars «at a good rate». Some vendors, like Yueskerlys Pérez, who sells ingredients for the traditional Christmas dish hallacas, use the parallel market as a reference, offering slightly more economical prices. Maria da Silva, a vendor with 40 years of experience, stated that people are buying, but in small amounts so their money «goes further». She also noted that the main source of stress for people is not the U.S. military deployment, but the economic situation. «At first, people were nervous, but now they are not paying attention to it,» she said. Another shopper, Yetzenia Zambrano, agreed that this is «the day-to-day» reality in the country. «The economy has gone down,» she concluded.
