Popularity of Venezuela's Maduro inches down to 24.3 percent

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's popularity fell to 24.3 percent in July, hurt by voracious inflation and shortages of goods ranging from spare parts to shampoo, according to respected local pollster Datanalisis. The oil-producing country is suffering from a brutal recession stemming in part from strict controls that crimp access to hard currency and imports, and aggravated by the tumble in crude prices. Maduro, who narrowly won an election to replace late leader Hugo Chavez in 2013, has avoided the structural reforms economist  say are crucial to keep conditions from worsening.About 24.3 percent of those surveyed gave positive evaluations to the former bus driver and union leader's governance, down from 25.8 percent in May, the latest Datanalisis survey shows. Negative evaluations climbed to 70.4 percent from 68.8 percent. More…