Dollar maintains steady rise and sells for Bs 17.50 | Dólar mantiene alza constante y se vende a Bs 17,50

By Brújula Digital:

The price of the parallel dollar is registering a sustained increase. This Wednesday, the selling rate in the parallel market reached 17.50 bolivianos, while the official rate is 6.97 bolivianos.

Exchange houses on Colón Street in the city of La Paz. Photo: Brújula Digital

The price of the parallel dollar is registering a sustained increase. This Wednesday, the selling rate in the parallel market reached 17.50 bolivianos, while the official rate is 6.97 bolivianos.

On May 15, the highest parallel dollar selling rate was 17.30 bolivianos, while on May 13 it was 15.60 bolivianos, reflecting a constant increase in the currency.

Brújula Digital visited four exchange houses and consulted with five street money changers located in downtown La Paz between San Francisco and Camacho, and was able to confirm the increase in the currency.

The selling price of the dollar ranges between 17.30 and 17.50 bolivianos, while the buying price is 17 bolivianos.

The official exchange rate according to the Central Bank of Bolivia is 6.96 bolivianos for selling and 6.86 bolivianos for buying.

These figures indicate a difference of 151.44% for selling and 147.81% for buying.

In the case of the Euro, the selling price reaches up to 19.50 bolivianos and 17 bolivianos for buying. According to the BCB, each unit of the euro should cost 7.73 bolivianos.

On Tuesday, informal market sellers closed their businesses in La Paz in protest over the country’s economic situation. “The Bolivian currency is dead,” read one of the many signs seen at vendor stalls on Calatayud.

One sign pointed out that in 2022, the minimum wage was 2,250 bolivianos, which at the official exchange rate equaled 323 dollars. However, although this year the minimum wage increased to 2,750 bolivianos, it now equals only 157 dollars when using the parallel exchange rate.

BD/AGT

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