40.000 Families Added to Living Below Poverty Line
Ξ August 19th, 2005 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Costa Rica, News and Comments, Whatever |
At least 40.000 families will join this year the estimated 210.000 families who already live below the poverty line, according to the Balance de la EconomÃa Costarricense study done for the first six months of 2005, prepared by experts at the Universidad Nacional (UNA).
According to Henry Mora, coordinator of the study, the alarming news is based on the disproportionate increase in the cost of food that make up the “canasta básica” (basic food basket).
The increase in the cost of the canasta basica this year has topped 21% which means more than 50% of the cost of living for many. Mora explained that the increase affects the most the poorest which spend 80% on basic food needs.
The latest census done in 2004 showed 21.5% of Costa Rican families were poor while UNA investigators say that it will reach 25% by the end of 2005. In 2003 the number of 18.5%.
