CIUDAD GUAYANA, Venezuela — At least 10 stores in a southern Venezuelan mining town were looted on Monday after they refused to accept low-denomination banknotes, locals said, a sign of how hyperinflation is roiling commerce in the South American country.
The stores in Guasipati had all turned down bills worth 50,000 bolivars, worth less than 2 U.S. cents. Merchants prefer receiving larger bills – the central bank in March said it was issuing a 1 million bolivar note – to avoid handling large handfuls of cash.
“The 50,000 bolivar bill has become a hindrance,” said David Bermudez, vice president of the Consecomercio group representing retailers.
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