Venezuelan Toliet Paper Shortage

Venezuela is dealing with a crisis of epic proportion…they are running out of toilet paper! The government is blaming political opponents for the shortage, though economists say it is an attempt at price control that set the price of toilet tissue below market. It’s creating a nationwide demand for the restroom necessity in the country and people are lining up to buy it before it completely runs out. Reports say that some stores are holding people to only four rolls. This is not the only thing the country has seen a shortage of. Milk, butter, coffee and cornmeal have also run short. According to economists, state-controlled prices – prices that are set below market-clearing price – always result in shortages. The prices were set to make consumer goods available to poorer areas but they seem to be backfiring and having a negative effect, rather than a positive one. The government has said they are bringing in 50 million rolls of toilet paper to assist their citizens restroom needs. Commerce minister Alejandro Fleming said monthly consumption of toilet paper was normally 125m rolls, but that current demand "leads us to think that 40m more are required". Whether this will help the problem or temporarily delay the issue remains to be seen. Hopefully the Venezuelan people can make it through this crisis and get their government back on track. Portable Restroom Trailers hopes that a solution to this shortage can be found soon so the people don’t continue to struggle. As a restroom trailer provider we hate to see anyone without a comfortable restroom experience. Additionally, Portable Restroom Trailers would like to express our sympathy to the people of Oklahoma who were struck by the tornado this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.