Caracas, Nov 8 (EFE) .- The National Council of Trade and Services of Venezuela (Consecomercio) said today that 60% of businesses have closed in this country for the last five years due to the severe economic crisis it is going through.

"60% of the businesses. Of every 10 stores that were open five years ago, only four of them currently have their santamarias (doors) open, "said the president of Consecomercio, María Carolina Uzcátegui after noting that the merchants do not sell enough to pay their salaries. workers.

Speaking to journalists, said that this year has been "complicated" because the protests that took place between April and July affected the shops and because Furthermore, "during the last three years" there has been "a continuous fall of the gross domestic product that exceeds 25% only of the commerce sector".

"We are in a situation really criticism, but not only for the lack of products (...) but also, the most serious thing that we have at present is the issue of the purchasing power of the Venezuelan, "he continued, adding that the prognosis for next year is "well black".

The representative of Venezuelan merchants also said that they have not acquired foreign currency for two months through the auction system of the Central Bank in the context of exchange control, which is why they have had to resort to the parallel illegal market.

"Today, all imports" are being made "at a parallel dollar. which leads to the fact that (...) that price dynamics in the black market also apply to the price dynamics that establishments have in their products and services, "he said.

the present the Caribbean country presents / displays a deep crisis that the Venezuelan Government attributes to a supposed "economic war" that assures to him they apply the opposition, the United States and the companies private.

As part of this crisis that worsened with the fall in oil prices in 2014, Venezuela is going through a severe shortage of basic foods and medicines that businessmen and traders say it is due to the fall in national production and the limitations to access foreign currency.

The Venezuelan State has a monopoly on the sale of foreign currency, which it grants to companies and individuals through an auction system.