While expectations after signing the DR-CAFTA trade agreement were that prices would come down at the supermarkets in fact, it would seem over the last 15 days or so they have actually increased.

While consumers complain, small businesses and market vendors say that many imported products on the exempt list have actually gone up 10 or 15 pesos.

Supermarket managers say they are not responsible for the increases and that many goods that were bought at pre-CAFTA prices are still in warehouses and cannot be sold at cheaper prices. They say price reductions won't happen overnight and that people must wait until they restock.

While Customs Director Miguel Cocco says that consumers are responsible to fight and demand that retailers lower prices, consumers accuse the government of allowing unfettered speculation to occur.

While the blame game is being played the consumer continues to suffer from increasing prices. While constantly increasing fuel prices can be blamed for some of the increases, consumers feel high prices will be the norm from now on and are losing hope that the free trade agreement will bring them any relief in the near future.

The Electoral Commissions projections for the PLD primary elections for presidential candidate predict a comfortable win for President Leonel Fernandez over opponent Danilo Medina.

The second bulletin issued at midnight showed that with 36.37% of the votes counted Fernandez held a lead of 71.46% over Medina's 28.54%. Apparently this is enough to declare a clear winner.

While declaring that he would make a thorough evaluation of the results in the coming week, Medina commented that "the State prevailed".

This is teh third time Fernandez has held his party's presidential candidacy.

Just as we thought - in spite of predictions of showers and thunderstorms we've seen more sun than cloud lately. The odd dark cloud and threatening rumble but nothing that would keep us away from Happy Hour!

This week continues along the same pattern -

Monday 7th - a 60% chance of late afternoon or evening thunderstorms. High of 85F and low of 72F.

Tuesday 8th - pretty much a repeat of yesterday but temperatures are rising. High of 88F and low of 74F.

Wednesday 9th - a chance of scattered thunderstorms with high of 86F and low of 75F.

Thursday 10th - a small 30% chance of scattered thunderstorms, so probably a fabulously sunny day overall. High of 87F and low of 74F.

Friday 11th - those pesky scattered thunderstorms are still hanging about but will probably only threaten and not dampen anybody's TGIF! High of 86F and low of 75F.

So whatever your plans are for this week you'll probably have fairly nice weather to do them. Have a great week!

For the thirteenth time in fifteen weeks fuel prices have increased substantially. This time it is being blamed on price increases in the U.S. markets.

As of today premium gasoline will cost RD$156.60 per gallon, an increase RD$2.20. The biggest increase was on regular gasoline, which saw an increase of RD$3.10 bringing it to RD$144.00 per gallon. Diesel fared better only being increased by RD$0.90 to RD$107.80 per gallon. Even propane saw a larger than usual increase of RD$1.90. Subsidized propane will sell for RD$50.66 per gallon and non-subsidized will now be RD$$72.42 per gallon.