Fuerza del Pueblo analyzes the economic impact of the government’s management
The People’s Force (FP) presented a critical assessment of the first six years of the current government administration. Through economist Haivanjoe Ng Cortiñas, the organization’s Secretary of Economic Affairs, the relationship between the country’s macroeconomic growth and the real purchasing power of Dominican families was questioned.
The question is not only how much the economy grew. The question is how much of that growth reached people’s pockets.
Haivanjoe Ng Cortiñas, economist and Secretary of Economic Affairs of the FP.
Cost of living challenges and basic food basket
The Alofoke Deportes analysis highlights that, between August 2020 and July 2026, food prices experienced a 48% increase, while school supplies rose by 32%. According to the data presented, approximately 70% of the workforce does not earn enough income to cover the RD$30,000 required for the basic family basket of the lowest-income segment.
- Food inflation: A 6.75% increase was recorded in the food and non-alcoholic beverages category as of July 2026.
- Household credit: Consumer credit cards increased by 40% and consumer loans by 25%, outpacing nominal GDP growth.
- Construction sector: The cost of construction experienced a 33.8% rise.
Public debt and spending priorities
Another central point of the report is the increase in Central Government debt, which went from US$39,178 million in August 2020 to US$67,371 million in July 2026, representing a 72% increase. The analysis highlights a marked disparity in the prioritization of public funds.
During the first semester of 2026, the State allocated RD$178,261.1 million exclusively to the payment of public debt interest. This figure significantly exceeds the combined investment in health (RD$73,105.2 million) and social protection (RD$77,595.3 million).
At the conclusion of the presentation, Ng Cortiñas emphasized that, although the country has maintained a trajectory of economic growth —with an expansion of 4.5% between January and June 2026—, this indicator has not translated into a tangible improvement in the quality of life for Dominicans, noting that public spending has leaned more toward meeting financial commitments than toward social welfare.
