Maduro orders 96 percent devaluation in hyperinflation-stricken Venezuela


Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with ministers at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, August 17, 2018. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro announced on Friday a single exchange rate pegged to his socialist government’s petro cryptocurrency, effectively devaluing by 96 percent in a move economists said would fan hyperinflation in the chaotic country.

In one of the biggest economic overhauls of Maduro's five-year government, the former bus driver and union leader also said he would hike the minimum wage by over 3,000 percent, boost the corporate tax rate, and increase highly-subsidized gas prices in coming weeks.

The Star Festive Promo: Get 35% OFF Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Trump agrees to end deportation surge in Minnesota, White House border czar says
Six more children reunited with Russian, Ukrainian families, US and Russia say
Interventions underway as water crisis intensifies in Johannesburg, South Africa
Carney plans visit to Tumbler Ridge as Canada grieves mass shooting
Ethiopia's central bank relaxes foreign exchange directive
Nipah patient dies inside hospital in India's West Bengal
Tanzanian PM calls for African cooperation in fight against cancer
Norway, France to finance more military support for Ukraine
2 Ghanaian ministers involved in tragic road accident in northern Ghana
Mali announces partial cabinet reshuffle

Others Also Read