Venezuela Annual Inflation Rose to 63.4% in August

Venezuela's last published inflation figures in May. Months of delays have lead economists, bond market participants as well as government detractors to accuse the central bank of hiding the data for political reasons, charges the government denies. President Nicolás Maduro's popularity has taken a hit this year, polls show, partly thanks to one of the world's highest inflation rates and chronic shortages of food and other consumer goods. The Caracas business consultancy Ecoanalitica estimates inflation could top 80% in 2014. More…