CiberCuba: Dollar Reaches 805 CUP and Euro 904 CUP in Informal Market
Cuba’s informal foreign exchange market closed Saturday, October 17, 2026, with both the U.S. dollar and the euro registering sharp gains against the peso cubano, deepening the purchasing power squeeze for households relying on local currency wages. According to data tracked by CiberCuba, the dollar finished the trading day at an average of 805 CUP, while the euro climbed to 904 CUP.
Dollar And Euro Surge On The Parallel Market
The daily upward movement reflects a sustained depreciation of the national currency driven by structural scarcity and persistent inflation. The U.S. dollar advanced 2.5 pesos from Friday’s close of 803 CUP, accumulating a 2.9% gain over the week from 783 CUP. Over a thirty-day horizon, the dollar has climbed from 703 CUP, though price indices factor in baseline adjustments.
The Tasa de Cambio de CiberCuba is an index of the Cuban informal market generated from automated analysis of thousands of currency purchase and sale posts in Telegram and Facebook groups. The calculation discards atypical offers and spam messages, weights each transaction according to its age, and consolidates a representative value updated multiple times daily. Meanwhile, the euro widened its lead as the most dominant foreign currency in the parallel market. The European currency closed at 904 CUP, up 6 pesos from the previous session’s 898 CUP. En la última semana, el euro avanzó un 3,2% desde los 876 CUP, y se situó por encima del dólar.
MLC Settlement Amid Thin Trading Volumes
The Moneda Libremente Convertible, known as MLC, settled at an indicative value of 652 CUP amid thin trading volumes. Because the MLC lacks physical cash circulation and remains restricted to select state-run stores, analysts urge caution regarding its daily volatility.
The Growing Gap With Official Benchmarks
Under its Segment III framework, the state monetary authority established official rates at 720 CUP per dollar and 811 CUP per euro. That leaves a widening gap of over 85 pesos for the dollar and nearly 93 pesos for the euro between official rates and everyday transactions.
Macroeconomic Pressure And Household Strains
Independent reporting from Diario de Cuba and EFE emphasized that these currency shifts unfold against a backdrop of severe economic contraction, with independent estimates pointing toward a double-digit GDP drop for the year. Interanual formal inflation reached 28.44% in September, while average state wages hover around 7,354 CUP per month, leaving families struggling against soaring food and energy costs.
Local Businesses Face Steep Replacement Costs
As the informal market absorbs the pressure of dwindling foreign reserves and high demand for travel and imports, businesses operating locally face steep replacement costs.