Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered that the national minimum wage be increased again by 50% with immediate effect. He also announced his intention to crack down on economic speculation in an attempt to control prices. The latest wage hike follows a 60% rise little more than a month ago in a country where consumer price inflation is expected by the IMF to hit 721% this year and 2069% next year. As a consequence, the government has been forced to issue citizens with a monthly food bag containing essentials such as rice, milk, pasta and beans. Meanwhile cities across the country are in chaos and since April over 80 civilians taking part in street protests have been shot by the military police.