Now, even in death, Venezuelans are afflicted by shortages. Coffin production has dropped between 20% and 30% this year for lack of materials, forcing funeral and burial delays and boosting cask prices, industry officials say.

Pedro Navarro, former president of Venezuela's funeral parlor association, has blamed lagging production at the state-run foundry Sidor. In short supply especially was the metal leaf used in the construction of coffins. "Some factories are paralysed. Others are buying thicker leaf," he said.

The country, which has a population of 30 million, has about 50 coffin factories. The president of one of Caracas' biggest coffin companies, Ataudes Venezuela, said that glue, varnish, paint and fabric for the interiors, was scarce.

"I figure that within two or three months, if things continue on this path, it's going to get so bad that there won't be coffins to bury people," said the company executive Juan Carlos Fernandez. He said that he expected to be forced to halve production next month.

Demand for coffins has grown in recent years. Venezuela has one of the world's highest murder rates. People have been coping with shortages since 2006, long before the death from cancer last year of the pro-socialist president, Hugo Chávez.

The situation has grown especially acute in recent months as the cash-strapped government has reduced hard currency available for imports. Venezuela's central bank has not published a scarcity index since March, when it stood at 26.9%.

Empty shelves in shops and long queues have become a fixture of the daily hunt for staples such as milk, cooking oil and flour. Pharmaceuticals and medical supplies are also scarce. The anti-government street protests that began in February by an emboldened opposition have grown with the shortages.