Venezuela Issues Electronic Chips to Help Ration Staples as Inflation Takes Off

Venezuela launches electronic rationing card (al Jazeera)

Venezuela's most populated state is to begin a system of rationing, with consumers in Western Zulia being given electronic chip cards to limit puchases of items such as rice, cooking oil and toilet paper.

The shortages of everyday basics across the country are being blamed on the government's attempts to control the economy.

Al Jazeera's Adam Raney reports from Caracas.