---
title: "Rice and Chicken Prices Rise in Panama, Acodeco Finds"
date: 2026-10-24
author: "Panama Daily News"
url: https://panamadaily.news/2026/10/24/rice-and-chicken-prices-rise-in-panama-acodeco-finds/
categories:
  - "Economy"
---

# Rice and Chicken Prices Rise in Panama, Acodeco Finds

Two of the foods most deeply rooted in the Panamanian table — rice and chicken — have registered a slight price increase, according to the latest measurement of the basic food basket carried out by Panama’s consumer protection agency, Acodeco (Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia).

## What Happened

Acodeco’s most recent basic basket survey detected a light increase in the prices of both rice and chicken. These two products are among the most consumed foods by Panamanian households, making even small movements in their prices noticeable for families across the country.

The basic basket measurement is one of the tools Acodeco uses to monitor the cost of essential goods in Panama. By tracking prices of staple products regularly, the agency provides consumers and authorities with an up-to-date picture of how food costs are evolving in supermarkets, markets, and other points of sale.

## Background

Rice and chicken occupy a central place in the Panamanian diet. Dishes based on these two ingredients appear daily on tables throughout the country, which means they carry significant weight in household food spending, particularly for low- and middle-income families.

Acodeco, the Authority for Consumer Protection and Defense of Competition, is the government body responsible for monitoring prices, verifying compliance with consumer protection rules, and publishing regular measurements of the basic food basket. Its surveys are widely used as a reference to gauge the cost of living and detect price pressures on essential products.

Price movements in staple foods are closely watched in Panama because food inflation directly affects household budgets. When products as widely consumed as rice and chicken become more expensive, the effect is felt quickly, since these items are purchased frequently and in consistent quantities by nearly all households.

## What This Means for Panama

While the increase reported by Acodeco is described as slight, the significance lies in the products involved. Because rice and chicken are consumed by virtually every Panamanian household, even modest price rises translate into higher cumulative spending over weeks and months.

For consumers, the report is a reminder to compare prices between retailers, a practice Acodeco has long encouraged through its price monitoring publications. For authorities and market observers, the movement in these two staples will be a point of attention in upcoming basic basket measurements, to determine whether the increase is an isolated fluctuation or part of a broader trend in food prices.

Shoppers can expect Acodeco to continue publishing its regular basket measurements, which will show whether rice and chicken prices stabilize, continue rising, or ease in the weeks ahead.

This story was originally reported by [Telemetro](https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/el-arroz-y-el-pollo-suben-precio-n6096398).