Trade and vehicle repair were the activities that, during November 2019, explained the 3.4% year-on-year variation in the IMAE.
In November last year, the Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE) slowed down for the second consecutive month, from 4.3% to 3.7% between September and October, and in the eleventh month it fell to 3.4%, reported the Bank of Guatemala.
A few days before the new government takes office in Guatemala, the Economic Activity Confidence Index reported a 21% year-on-year growth.
Figures from the Bank of Guatemala indicate that in December 2019 the country's Confidence in Economic Activity Index (Icae) reported a considerable increase compared to the same month in 2018, a performance that reinforces the upward trend it has been registering since July last year.
In November of this year, the Index of Confidence in Economic Activity in Guatemala reported a 28% growth with respect to the same month in 2018, reinforcing the upward trend that has been registered since July 2019.
Businessmen forecast an inflationary rhythm of 3.34% and 3.54% for November and December 2019, respectively, as well as 3.69% for January 2020.
In September, the IMAE in Guatemala registered a 4.2% inter-annual variation, influenced by wholesale and retail trade activities, and Agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry and fishing.
The economic activity measured by the estimation of the IMAE, in September 2019, showed a 4.2% growth rate, variation that is greater in comparison to the 3.6% registered in the ninth month of 2018, explains the report of the Banco de Guatemala.
Private services, manufacturing industries and wholesale and retail trade explained part of the 3% year-on-year increase reported in gross GDP in the period from April to June 2019.
Financial intermediation, insurance and auxiliary activities, and Construction were other economic activities contributing to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product for the quarter in question.
After the economies of the region grew by 2.6% in 2018 as a whole, the IMF estimates that 2019 would close with a rise of 2.7% and could reach 3.4% by 2020.
The document "World Economic Outlook", prepared by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), states that for Panama the projected growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2019 was reduced from 5% to 4.3%.
In August, the IMAE in Guatemala registered a 3.7% year-on-year variation, influenced by wholesale and retail trade activities, and private services.
The economic activity measured by the estimation of the IMAE, in August 2019, showed a 3.7% growth rate, variation that is slightly lower compared to the 3.8% registered in the eighth month of 2018, explains the report of the Banco de Guatemala.
From January to June in Guatemala, the Industrial Activity Index registered a 2% drop regarding the same period of 2018, which is explained by the drop of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and mining.
According to the Industrial Activity Index (IAIG) developed by Central American Business Intelligence (CABI), 85% of the negative result of the index is related to macroeconomic aspects, that is, influenced by what happens with the country's economy, and the remaining 15% is determined by industry issues.
The Index of Economic Activity registered a 3.2% year-on-year growth in July, partly explained by variations in wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing industries.
According to the report of the Banco de Guatemala, the economic activity measured by the estimation of the IMAE, reported a slight acceleration in July 2019, since it registered a 3.2% growth rate, higher than the variation of 3.1% reported in June of this year.
In Guatemala, the Economic Activity Index registered year-on-year growth of 3.1% in June, explained in part by the variations of Private Services and Manufacturing Industries.
According to the report of the Banco de Guatemala the economic activity measured by the estimation of the IMAE, reported a deceleration in June 2019, since it registered a 3.1% growth rate, increase that is lower to the variation of 3.5% reported in May of this year.
After economic activity in April reported a 2.8% year-on-year growth, in May the variation was 3.3%, mainly because of the behavior of commercial activity.
The document prepared by the Banco de Guatemala explains that "... The economic activity measured by the estimation of the IMAE in May 2019, showed a 3.3% growth rate (3.8% in May 2018).
The described behavior was influenced by the growth shown by the following economic activities: Wholesale and retail trade; manufacturing industries; private services; and agriculture, livestock, hunting, forestry and fishing.
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 Guatemala, the economic activity reported a 2.8% year-on-year growth rate in the fourth month of the year, mainly because of the behavior of the Wholesale and Retail Commerce and Private Services sector.
After the 2.7% increase in economic activity reported by the Banco de Guatemala in March, in the third month of the year, represented an acceleration since in February 2019 the variation was only 1.9%, the 2.8% in April is a continuation of the positive path of the economy.
The economic slowdown in the U.S., the main trading partner, partially explains the 6% year-on-year drop in the Industrial Activity Index reported during the first quarter of the year.
According to the Industrial Activity Index (IAIG) compiled by Central American Business Intelligence (CABI), the productivity of the 14 industrial sectors have been affected by the increase in the price of gasoline, the new fall in commodity prices, the stagnation of national investment and smuggling.
In Guatemala the economic activity reported the third month of the year a 2.7% year-on-year growth rate, mainly because of the behavior of the Transportation and Manufacturing Industries sector.
The 2.7% increase in economic activity reported by the Banco de Guatemala in the third month of the year, represents an acceleration since in February 2019 the variation was only 1.9%.