Venezuela's economic crisis has stretched into 2018 after government forces forcefully quashed protests against President Nicolas Maduro's government last year, killing at least 120 in the process. In recent weeks, the black market exchange rate — far more trusted than the government's laughably rosy official rate of 10 Venezuelan bolivars for one U.S. dollar — has spiraled out of control, recently topping 200,000 bolivars for a dollar, per DolarToday.

Expand chart Data: dolartoday.com; Chart: Lazaro Gamio / Axios

Why it matters: The crippling economic forces that spurred last year's protests against the Maduro regime have accelerated, and many ordinary Venezuelans not only can't afford food but also often don't have the cash to pay for it.

For normal Venezuelans, the country's hyperinflation takes an exacting toll on daily life. Per a report from CNN Money's Stefano Pozzebano, citizens in Caracas now wait for hours at banks to obtain their daily allowance of cash, equivalent to just a few cents and worth less and less each day.

Venezuelans are forced to contend with completely arbitrary daily withdrawal allowances. Pozzebano's report details his attempt to get cash in the Venezuelan capital, ultimately getting 10,000 bolivars — that day's allowance — after visiting four banks over four hours. That day, 10,000 bolivars equaled six U.S. cents.

with completely arbitrary daily withdrawal allowances. Pozzebano's report details his attempt to get cash in the Venezuelan capital, ultimately getting 10,000 bolivars — that day's allowance — after visiting four banks over four hours. That day, 10,000 bolivars equaled six U.S. cents. The country's government assistance program gives citizens bags of essential goods at subsidized prices. Those goods have been shrinking in both size and quality as foreign investment in Venezuela collapses, but even they cost 30,000 bolivars each.

gives citizens bags of essential goods at subsidized prices. Those goods have been shrinking in both size and quality as foreign investment in Venezuela collapses, but even they cost 30,000 bolivars each. Bloomberg notes that, according to its Cafe con Leche Index, the price of a cup of coffee in Caracas has risen from 5,500 bolivars to 45,000 bolivars in just 12 weeks. That pace, should it continue unabated, indicates an eye-watering annualized inflation rate of 448,025%.

For the macroeconomic forces behind Venezuela's collapse, Harvard professor — and former Venezuelan minister of planning — Ricardo Haussman collected some mind-boggling stats last year for Project Syndicate: