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And, while the trade imbalance grows, inflation is virtually nil - or at least that’s what the numbers say.  

Compared to May of 2018l, consumer prices declined by an almost imperceptible 0.01 percent. Don’t believe it?  Well, the numbers don’t lie - here’s how the experts explained it:

Jacqueline Sabal - Statistician II
"The inflation rate for the month of May 2019 stood at -0.01 percent, this means that the cost of regularly purchased goods and services which Belizean households purchase remains relatively unchanged in comparison to 2018. Food and non-alcoholic beverage increases by 0.5 percent when compared to May 2018. This increase was due a rise in prices of certain meat, fruit and vegetable prices. This included the price per pound for ground beef, which increased 9.7 percent, the price per pound for pork chops which also increased 9.5 percent. If we look at pineapple and watermelon, which increased 69.5 percent and 33.5 percent respectively just to name a few. At the municipal level, Punta Gorda experienced the highest monthly increase in consumer prices, recording a 3.2 percent inflation rate for the month of May 2019. Consumers in Punta Gorda experienced above average increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages, home rental costs and admission fees to sporting events. Meanwhile, Dangriga Town reported the lowest inflation rate for the month with prices declining by 5.4 percent. Consumers in this municipality experienced significant decreased in home rental cost and outpatient medical services such as surgery and lab fees."