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Chilean consumer prices rose 0,9% in April; Chinese city delegation in Punta Arenas; Month of the Sea; King crab is king.

Chilean consumer prices rose 0,9% in April.

The consumer prices index in Chile jumped 0,9% in April, the highest since October 2002, (and above market expectations ranging 0,6 to 0,8%), according to the latest report from the country's Statistics Institute. First four months index reached 1,1% and 2,9% in the last twelve months. Transport 2,6% and Housing, 1,4% were the sectors with the highest variation while Education, Leisure, Clothing, Food and Health services experienced a 0,3% upward push. The most volatile items include, petrol 9,2%; liquid gas 5,3% and public transport 3,4%. In the last twelve months liquid gas set an 18,6% increase record and financial costs 9,9%. Wholesale prices in April rose 1,7%; 4,4% during the first quarter of 2005 and 8% in the last twelve months. Domestic wholesale products increased 2,4% while imported products dropped 0,7%. Fisheries and Industrial goods recorded the highest jump among domestic wholesale prices, 8% and 2,7%. Prices at producer level increased 2,2% in April, 2,4% during the first four months of 2005 and 10,9% in the last twelve months. Mining and quarries led with a 6,5% increase, followed by manufacturing 2,1%; agriculture, livestock and forestry 1,4%; public utilities 0,4% with price reductions in the construction industry 1,6% and fisheries 1%.

Chinese city delegation in Punta Arenas.

A top level delegation from the Chinese city of Harbin is currently in Punta Arenas holding talks with local officials and representatives from the private sector. Harbin in the north of China is the capital of Heilongjiang province with weather conditions similar to those of Magallanes Region and a population of over nine million. She is also known as the city of snow and ice and is experiencing, as most other Chinese regions, a fast economic expansion with higher levels of per capita income. One of the ceremonies scheduled is making Punta Arenas and Harbin sister cities, facilitating business, cultural, tourism and people exchanges. China is showing a growing interest in Chile not only in trade and natural resources, but also tourism. Last month a television crew from the Chinese equivalent of Discovery Channel spent time in Patagonia filming several programs to be aired in the coming weeks promoting the natural attractions of Southern Chile.

Month of the Sea.

The Chilean Navy garrison in Punta Arenas, III Zona Naval, officially launched the Month of the Sea with a vast program of cultural, sports, social service and historic remembrance activities highlighting Magallanes Region dependence on the sea. The program which extends during the whole of May began with the launching of a seminar titled, "Magallanes Region and Chilean Antarctica; an integral Bicentenary challenge" with the participation of Executive and Legislative representatives, scientists, academia, businessmen and Armed Forces officers. (In 2010 Chile celebrates its 200th independence anniversary). Social service actions include a medical-dental service operation with naval doctors and staff among low income urban dwellers and people living in distant villages and the camp. Sports activities include golf, basket ball, marathon tournaments, horse racing, and several canoe, rowing and zodiac competitions with participation of neighbouring Argentine naval teams. Historic remembrance of Chilean naval heroes will be followed by military and student parades, a Song Festival dedicated to the sea, and on May 29 an amphibious exercise by naval forces will conclude this year's Month of the Sea.

King crab is king.

King crab is the preferred delicatessen of tourists visiting Punta Arenas. According to Punta Arenas La Prensa Austral, most visitors to the city not only ask for the more traditional squid but are pleasantly surprised by the region's king crab (centolla). Among the best places to have king crab, the local newspaper mentions, Puerto Viejo, Sotito's, La Luna. However no mention is made of prices, but since most visitors are high income tourists from cruise vessels calling in Punta Arenas, the question is not an issue.