Shoppers packed malls and downtown streets in Caracas on Black Friday (28 November) as retailers offered discounts despite Venezuela’s prolonged economic crisis. Customers queued in shoe and electronics stores and browsed signs advertising cuts of up to 50%.
Lifestyle and content creator Omar Aguilar said the day generated “a lot of movement” in the streets and allowed Venezuelans to purchase goods at slightly lower prices ahead of December expenses.
“There is a lot of movement in the streets, many people out. Commercial activity has increased a lot, there are good offers and you can find good discounts in the stores. With December coming and expenses approaching, we have found good prices and there have been good discounts,” Aguilar said.
Discounts and Shopper Opinions
Designer Anderson Briceno expressed scepticism about the discounts, saying:
“In my view, the discounts here are very small. Prices are so inflated that they say they take off 20 or 30 dollars but it is not really much of a discount. You do not really see much of a change, to be honest.”
Web developer Johan Blanco noted that Black Friday encourages people to go out despite the country’s difficult conditions:
“Although you also see a somewhat strange contrast, because many people say the situation in the country is this or that, something very curious is that on these dates you typically see a lot of people, really a lot of people, going out to shop. In fact, the shopping malls, like today, are completely full.”
Systems engineer Eduardo Molinares added that the U.S.-inspired tradition has grown increasingly popular over the years, particularly in formal businesses.
Retail and Street Scenes
Shoppers were seen walking along pedestrian streets and inside shopping malls, browsing stores with signs reading “Everything at 1$ (USD)” and “From 5 to 10$ (USD).” Shoe stores and electronics outlets were among the busiest, with customers lining up to pay and exploring Black Friday promotions.
Economic and Geopolitical Context
The shopping day took place against a backdrop of high inflation and weak purchasing power for many Venezuelan households.
Tensions with the United States have been rising, with reports of a major military buildup in the Caribbean and authorised covert CIA operations in Venezuela. Reuters reported that U.S. officials were considering new operational options, including attempts to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro.
AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary marking the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new edi...
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions fla...
The Conservative Party says it would cut funding for green energy projects and redirect the money into defence, arguing the UK needs to be ready for w...
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a s...
An international scientific-practical congress marking the 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named afte...
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a shared interest in deepening cooperation.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
The European Union is facing mounting political pressure over its ability to keep Russian sovereign assets frozen, as internal divisions, leadership changes and war fatigue reshape decision-making across the bloc.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
The Conservative Party says it would cut funding for green energy projects and redirect the money into defence, arguing the UK needs to be ready for war.
The European Union is facing mounting political pressure over its ability to keep Russian sovereign assets frozen, as internal divisions, leadership changes and war fatigue reshape decision-making across the bloc.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a shared interest in deepening cooperation.
The long-running geopolitical tug-of-war over the world’s most popular short-form video application appears to have reached its finale, resolving a five-year saga that bridged two US presidencies and a brief nationwide service blackout.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment