While in August Costa Rica consumed 965,860 barrels of oil, in September only 954,081 were imported according to figures released by RECOPE. In addition, in the morning traffic reports this week callers noted that traffic seems to be moving much more smoothly that previously. They attributed it to less cars on the road as a result of people not being able to afford to drive every day.

Since October 3rd, Nicaragua has reinstated a 20% tax on merchandise that enters the country in trucks via Peñas Blancas. The tax was lifted in April after pressure by truck drivers, but was reinstated in a note dated September 28th, the same day that Costa Rica decided to take Nicaragua to court over the issue of navigation rights on the San Juan River.