According to the IMF, in the first half of the year, the Salvadoran economy increased above the estimated potential, the inflation remained low and the fiscal position was better than expected.
From the International Monetary Fund statement:
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Ms. Alina Carare, visited San Salvador from November 12 to 16, 2018 to discuss recent economic and financial developments.
The State of the Nation 2018 Report explains that during 2017 and the first months of 2018 the progress of Costa Rica's economy has been adverse and, in the short term, the prospects for economic opportunities, solvency and stability are negative.
Most of the drivers of Costa Rica's economy have declined in recent months, resulting in Costa Rica going through a period of multiple economic and political risks.
In Guatemala, the National Competitiveness Policy has come into force, which aims to promote development through 11 economic clusters.
The Ministry of Economy reported that the National Competitiveness Policy, which is part of the 2018-2032 period, will focus on "... the 11 clusters chosen from a list of 25 that had been previously identified, those being: forestry, fruits and vegetables, processed foods, beverages, textile clothing and footwear, metalworking, light manufacturing, tourism and health services, TIC's software & Contact Centers, transport and logistics, construction."
In spite of the economic progress that has been achieved in Costa Rica, employment growth has stagnated, results in education are deficient, and anti-competitive regulations continue to hinder business development.
The latest OECD economic study on Costa Rica details the factors that support the significant socio-economic achievements of the last decades, as well as the pending challenges to ensure sustainable and more inclusive growth.
This year it is projected that growth in the Honduran economy will moderate to 3.7%, partly influenced by political uncertainty and less favorable external conditions.
From a statement issued by the IMF:
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Roberto Garcia-Saltos, visited Tegucigalpa during April 3-12 to conduct the 2018 Article IV consultation.
Supported by greater growth in the US economy, better monetary conditions and a moderate boost in government spending, growth should accelerate gradually until it reaches a rate of 3.6% in 2019.
The mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recognizes the macroeconomic stability that has been achieved, but warns of a need to approve a fiscal reform that allows the tax burden to be increased to at least 15% of GDP, and allocate that additional income to public investment, especially in social development, particularly pre-primary education, preventive health care and greater pension coverage.
In spite of the economic losses caused by climatic events that occurred in September, the Central Bank estimates closing 2017 with growth of around 5%.
The latest report from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) indicates that the economy registered a year-on-year increase of 5.1% in August, and an accumulated increase of 4% in the first eight months of the year.
The best performing sector was the financial services sector, with growth of 9.8%, followed by trade, which recorded an increase of 5.8%.
From a report by the Central Bank:
The Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) published, on Thursday March 16, 2017, results of the estimate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2016.The results indicate that in 2016, GDP achieved a growth rate of 4.7 percent.
Less investment, depletion of international reserves and contraction of public spending, in the opinion of Funides, are some of the effects that might be felt if the US Senate approves the bill.
The Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Funides) has analyzed the potential impact of a possible US approval of the bill known as the "Nica Act", which aims to place conditions on the granting of loans by international institutions to the Ortega administration.
A government proposal seeks to generate in 5 years $13,000 billion worth of investment in tourism, textiles, intermediate manufacturing and business support services.
From a statement issued by the President of Honduras:
Tegucigalpa, February 29. President Juan Orlando Hernández presented the National Economic Development Program 20/20 Honduras, the largest platform for growth promoted in the country's history, focusing on tourism, textiles, intermediate manufacturing and business support services, which will generate 600,000 jobs in five years, among other objectives.
Report of Costa Rica´s performance, through the selection, measurement and evaluation of a set of variables that include social, economic, environmental and political aspects of development.
Overview of the State of the Nation Report 2015:
In the past five years, the State of the Nation has warned about the severity of the problems that threaten the sustainability of human development, the political system's inability to find answers and the need to correct the country's course. Therefore, in 2011 it was stated that behind the political and economic stability a wearing down of Costa Rica's historical progress could be detected. In 2012 the absence of solid progress was noted and in 2013, the existence of myths about the "country we are," which led to do the same actions being repeated with different results expected. Last year, the Twentieth Report stated that it was the end of an era and the political system was being called on to lead the transition with minimal confrontation and costs for the weaker groups.
The organization states that the country has advanced in the process of economic stabilization and has exceeded the quantitative targets set for December 2014, also meeting the benchmarks set for March 2015.
From a press release issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF):
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Lisandro Ábrego, visited Tegucigalpa during March 9-17 to conduct the first review of Honduras’ Fund-supported program, approved on December 3, 2014. At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Ábrego issued the following statement in Tegucigalpa today:
For this year the Central Bank of Honduras has projected economic growth of between 3% and 3.5% and inflation of between 4.5% and 6.5%.
From a statement issued by Banco Central de Honduras:
The Board of the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH) has approved the Monetary Programme (FP) for 2015-2016, which contains policy measures to be adopted based on projections of key macroeconomic variables under the national and international current economic context.
The 3rd Summit of the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean resulted in an expected collection of platitudes which can be summarized by everyone willing to "be rich and healthy and not poor and sick", plus a media show of diplomatic excesses.
EDITORIAL
The meeting was attended by all the leaders who were able to, obviously not because they expected to accomplish anyhing that might benefit the people of their respective countries, but simply because "you have to be there".
The investment plan announced by the government is over $19 billion in road works, sanitation and electricity distribution and will support sectors such as logistics, transportation, tourism and agriculture.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Panama (MEF):
The Government Strategic Plan 2015-2019, contemplates a public investment program of around $19.5 billion.