Despite the Puerto Cabello's once bustling port, port traffic disappeared when the price of oil collapsed, which affected the country that was dependent on imports paid for with the high price of oil. As part of the Venezuelan crisis, many of the poorer citizens in "shantytowns" in Puerto Cabello now struggle for food. Citizens wait in long lines to buy government-mandated priced groceries and the currency (bolivar) experienced nearly 64% depreciation as of May, 2017. As of August 2017, the depreciation percentage was as much as 94%.