Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Cuba’s Ration System Collapses, 5,000 Havana Residents Affected

5/4/2026

30 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The ration book system collapsed in April, leaving Havana bodega empty and providing rice, sugar and split chickpeas to its 5,000 clients.
Ana Enamorado, earning about 8,000 Cuban pesos a month, can afford split chickpeas and one kilogram of sugar each month.
Professor William LeoGrande says the 2021 merger of Cuba’s currencies bungled the economy, creating inflation as it spends more than it collects and imports 80 % of its food.

1 of 1

Story summary

The ration book system collapsed in April, leaving Havana bodega empty and providing rice, sugar and split chickpeas to its 5,000 clients.
Ana Enamorado, earning about 8,000 Cuban pesos a month, can afford split chickpeas and one kilogram of sugar each month.
Professor William LeoGrande says the 2021 merger of Cuba’s currencies bungled the economy, creating inflation as it spends more than it collects and imports 80 % of its food.