Slow recovery tied to a lagging U.S. economy, 3% growth in 2010 due to increased domestic consumption and rising remittances and international trade.
The countries in Central America are recovering gradually, led by a rebound indomestic demand (following its sharpcontraction in 2009), which has partly spilled over into imports. Pickups in exports and morerecently remittances have been further positive developments.
Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE), exports, remittances, international reserves, exchange rates, inflation, tax collection, banking system, foreign investment, tourism and outlooks.
Oscar E. Mendizábal, editor of the Blog “Desde Guate” (From Guatemala), gathers and analyses the main factors influencing the Central American economy (except Panama) during the first six months of this year.
One year after the fall of Lehman Brothers, SECMCA analyzes the international situation, and Central America's perspectives and current situation.
Production continues to fall, as evidenced by the Central American Monthly Economic Activity Index, confirming a process started on the last trimester of 2008. June's variation was -1.9% when compared to the same month of the previous year.
Inflation is declining and economic growth is decelerating - Analysis of the Executive Secretary of the Central American Monetary Counsel.
The excessive volatility in the financial markets and the low investor and consumer confidence levels are omens that the crisis is going to last, which is being translated into lower levels of consumption and investment and high unemployment rates in the most developed countries.
Economic growth is slowing down in Central America, but economic activity is still positive in spite of the slowdown in the United States, says the Central American Monetary Board in its June report.
The numbers from the board's Monthly Economic Activity Index for the firs three months of this year show a process of deceleration in both short- and long-term trends and a downturn in the business cycle.