Understanding the economic environment the company is facing, generating projections in real time and having the opinion of external consultants to the organization, are some of the strategies that could help companies in times of low sales.
In Central America, during the first half of the year, some economies reported declines in their productive activity.
After registering a 1.3% year-on-year variation in June, the Monthly Economic Activity Index in July reached 1.5%, which is mainly explained by the performance of the special regimes manufacturing sector.
After the first seven months of the year, average growth stood at 1.5%, while the average rate of the last twelve months was 1.8%, both lower than that recorded in the same period last year, reported the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
Avoiding hurried discounts, managing price increases according to costs and improving cash flow are some of the strategies that companies can resort to protect their profitability in contexts of inflation and recession.
Ariel Baños, a price management specialist and founder of Fijciondeprecios.com, explains four strategies for maintaining profitability when companies face scenarios of rising prices and low dynamism in economic activity.
Faced with the threat of a global economic slowdown and the possibility of the U.S. entering recession next year, businessmen in the region argue that to mitigate possible adverse effects, it is key to diversify export destinations.
Market analysts assure that the slowdown in U.S. economic activity is already a reality, and that what is still not clear, is the possibility that the economy will go into recession next year.
While in June the production of special regime companies increased 10% with respect to the same month in 2018, companies operating outside those regimes grew just 0.3%.
The Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) reported that the production of special regimes (SR) companies grew 10.2% in June compared to the same month last year, as a result of increased external demand for medical implements, computer and business services.
Making real sales projections, segmenting prices and designing savings options are some of the strategies that companies can use to protect their profitability in contexts of inflation and recession.
Ariel Baños, price management specialist and founder of Fijciondeprecios.com, details techniques that could help companies avoid negative effects on their finances, when faced with scenarios of rising prices and low dynamism in economic activity.
Because of the slowdown in the economy and the entry into force of new taxes, in 2020 is expected a slight growth of 1% in the number of franchise brands in Costa Rica.
In the last year, the growth in the number of franchises reported a significant slowdown, since the figures of the guild specify that up to May this year the net number of brands reached 361, a value that exceeds by just 0.6% the 358 registered in the same month of 2018.
In Costa Rica, the Monthly Economic Activity Index reported a 1.3% year-on-year increase in May, one of the lowest growth rates reported in recent years, since a similar variation had not been registered since November 2013.
The trend series of the Monthly Index of Economic Activity 1 registered in May 2019 a 1.3% year-on-year growth, which is lower by 2 percentage points (p.p.) to the same month of the previous year and by 0.2 p.p.
For the Central Bank of Costa Rica, the projection of growth in production, which for this year is 3.2%, should be reviewed downward, because of the evolution that has shown the economic activity during the first half.
Considering the shocks that have affected national production so far in 2019, it is likely that this year economic growth will be below the 3.2% projected in the 2019-2020 Macroeconomic Program last January, explains the most recent report of the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR).
At a time of economic slowdown, companies must immediately review business models and identify opportunities arising from the creation of new market niches.
In Central America, during the first half of the year, at least four of the six economies reported declines in productive activity. The most dramatic case is that of Nicaragua, which in February recorded a 7% year-on-year drop in the Monthly Index of Economic Activity (MIEA), a situation reported since the political crisis began in April 2018.
In the first quarter of the year, the country's Gross Domestic Product increased 1.8% year-on-year, lower than the 3.3% reported in the same period in 2018, which is partly explained by the fall in the prices of some agricultural export products.
According to the report of the Central Bank of Costa Rica, the slowdown combined external and internal factors, among which stand out:
In Costa Rica, the Monthly Economic Activity Index reported a 1.6% year on year increase in April, a variation that is lower than the 1.8% growth reported in March.
Excluding financial services and electricity and water, the rest of the economic activities grew less, or even had negative variations with respect to the previous year, as in the case of the agricultural industry, construction and trade, reported the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR).
The effects of the reduction in the Monetary Policy Rate and the lowering to 12% of the minimum legal reserve for banks will take months to be perceived, and without other parallel actions that impact the business sector more quickly and effectively, the economic reactivation of Costa Rica will not be possible in the short term.
According to the latest report of the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR), when comparing the level of economic activity recorded in March this year with the same month of 2018, it is observed that most economic activities slow down their growth, which was reflected in the slowdown of the general indicator. See full report.
Reducing social security contributions, lowering the price of electricity and simplifying procedures in the country are part of the changes proposed by Costa Rica's private sector to reactivate the economy.
Representatives of different productive sectors agree that immediate actions focused on improving the performance of the Costa Rican economy should be implemented.
In Costa Rica, the Monthly Economic Activity Index reported a 1.8% year-on-year increase in March, and business, education, health and financial services accounted for 60% of the increase.
Compared with March 2018, most economic activities moderated their growth, which was reflected in the deceleration of the overall indicator. The agricultural industry and trade were the only ones to show a decline, explains a report by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR).
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