This Thursday it was learned that in 2022 Colombia’s inflation reached 13.12 percent, the highest in the last 23 years, since since March 1999 a similar figure has not been observed. For that date it was 13.51 percent.
Only three cities reported inflation below the national average: Medellín (12.75 percent), Manizales (12.61 percent) and Bogota (12.35 percent)which was the one that increased the least variation in all of last year.
(Also read: Inflation in Colombia reached a maximum of 13.12% in 2022)
On the contrary, Cúcuta stands out as the city where the cost of living increased the most for Colombians, with 16.34 percent. As explained by the director of Dane, Piedad Urdinola, what had the most impact on this annual variation was the rise in prices for meals outside the homewith an increase of 21.95 percent and a contribution of 1.62 percent.
Their contributions were so small that they were not enough to contain the prices of the elements that did grow
Other products and services that were more expensive at the end of 2022 were electricity (20.27 percent)beef (25.88 percent), rice (55.10 percent) and imputed rent (4.14 percent).
What helped contain inflation in the city of Cúcuta were the medical supplies costs and information processing devices, but «their contributions were so small that they were not enough to cut the prices of the elements that did grow,» said Piedad Urdinola.
Behind Cúcuta are four cities in the Caribbean region, with fairly high inflation: Sincelejo (15.83 percent)Valledupar (15.53 percent), Riohacha (15.52 percent) and Montería (15.38 percent).
(Also read: The rise in food prices continues: these are the most expensive)
As for Bogotá, what contributed the most to its 12.35 percent inflation was, again, the food consumed in restaurants, which had an increase in prices of 19.01 percent and a contribution of 1. 45 percent. Also new vehicle prices rose (20.94 percent) due to the rise in the exchange rate, rent (3.82 percent), milk (38.84 percent) and electricity (18.49 percent).
What helped the capital have higher inflation was the 1.24 percent drop in the costs of information processing devices and hardware. In addition to medical supplies and payments for homework advice and classes taught by individuals.
«Although they had the highest growth in a negative way, its contribution is very close to zero and they were not able to stop those that did grow very quickly», explained the director of Dane.