* The Observatorio Venezolano de Finanzas (OVF), an independent economic think tank, has calculated that Venezuela’s monthly inflation rate was 6.7% in October, bringing annual inflation to 362%. Compared with the OVF’s estimate for September, monthly inflation was up from 6% but annual inflation was down from 396%. According to the OVF, the steepest monthly price rises in October were for services (+9.8%), restaurants & hotels (+9.5%), education (+8.3%), and food & non-alcoholic drinks (+7.1%).