Venezuela's April annualized inflation at 33.5 pct

Reuters, 05.02.03, 3:29 PM ET

CARACAS, Venezuela, May 2 (Reuters) - Venezuela's annualized inflation climbed to 33.5 percent in April compared with 18.7 percent a year earlier as the oil-rich nation battled a sharp recession, the Central Bank reported Friday.

Monthly inflation registered at 1.7 percent in April compared with 2.1 percent in the same month a year earlier and 0.8 percent in March. Accumulated inflation to April was 11.2 percent compared with 9.3 percent during the same period a year earlier.