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.