Mini-supermarkets  continue to head the list of retail businesses failing to comply with price control measures.  Of the  539 stores hit with fines by the Consumer Protection Authority (Acodeco) between July and the first week of November,304 were listed as minisupers and fined a total of $146 925.

They are followed by 77 supermarkets that were fined $129,375.

In the list of the offending, stores are included consumer cooperatives; public markets and vegetable stalls.

Across the board, fines totaled $,329 150.

When price control began in July 2014, the cost of the basic food basket was $318.48. The objective was to achieve a decrease of $5. 8 per month in the basic basket. The latest report from the  Ministry of Economy and Finance says that the price of the basic family basket made up of 59 items was $310.38 in July. this year.

The basket of products does not include other necessities, such as soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, sanitary napkins and deodorants,  and other personal and household toiletries.