Venezuela is feeling the economic effects of sustained low oil prices during the first quarter of 2015 . The country relies on the import of basic goods to meet its needs, but those imports have been declining for the past two years. In January, the country imported an estimated $1.5 billion in food and other items, down from around $2.8 billion a year before. For a country that imports many of its basic food items, the drop portends significant consequences for the government. The administration is facing the prospect of massive protests around high food costs and scarcity. Anecdotal evidence indicates that lines at food stores have become more frequent and have become longer since December, causing popular discontent. Around 50 calls are made daily to emergency services in Lara state to report injuries in lines or fights between shoppers.