Venezuelan government inspectors backed by soldiers have shut more than 70 shops in Caracas and other cities accused of trying to cash in on last week's currency devaluation. Soldiers have been on the streets to check prices as people queue to buy imports, fearing prices could rise.
The United States trade deficit shot up nearly 10% to 36.4 billion US dollars in November, hitting a 10-month high, the Department of Commerce said on Tuesday. Demand for imports is growing, as the US economy slowly gets back on its feet.
Venezuela announced electricity cuts on a rotating basis to sections of the country’s capital Caracas and major cities as the government deepens energy rationing amid a drought. In December major industries were forced to limit production.