Cubans look for holiday food amid deepening crisis

Scarcity and economic turmoil are nothing new to Cuba, but soaring inflation and deepening shortages have made holiday shopping even more difficult this year. Basic goods such as chicken, beef, eggs, milk, flour and toilet paper are difficult and often impossible to find in state stores.

When they do appear, they often come at hefty prices, either from informal shops, resellers or in expensive stores only accessible to those with foreign currency. In October, the Cuban government reported that inflation rose 40% over the past year, officials noting it impacted the purchasing power of many on the island.