Cubans will soon have to pay more for soap, toothpaste and other hygiene items after the government said Wednesday it would eliminate subsidies on the products in the new year, according to dpa. The items had previously been included as part of Cubans' monthly government rations, but Raul Castro's regime is working to eliminate many of the government subsidies on products. The government has previously eliminated salt, beans and cigars from the libreta de abastecimiento, or ration booklet, that has been used by citizens to acquire goods since 1962. Soap that previously cost about a cent using the booklet will now retail for about 30 cents. The average income in Cuba is about 15 dollars per month. Cubans will still be able to use the ration book for sugar, rice, coffee, oil, eggs and other staples. The monthly ration is often only enough to get a family through half of the month.
