With the modification in the calculation methodology, total exports dropped almost $2.7 billion while the corresponding account for services exports increased by more than $600 million.
The Central Bank of Costa Rica has adopted the sixth edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position (MBP6), which states that it exported goods consisting of only processing of intermediate products or raw materials will no longer be taking into account. The economic result of this work will now be included as income for manufacturing services.
Report on the Performance of Costa Rica, through the selection, measurement and evaluation of a set of factors covering social, economic, environmental and political development.
From the Synopsis of the State of the Nation Report 2013:
State of the Nation Report 2013
Persistent myths about our country, have led to Costa Rican society, for decades, doing the same thing and hoping for different results.
the report presents a series of statistics and relevant findings on key demographic, social, economic, environmental and regional policies.
From the introduction:
This document is a tool for Central American societies which can be used for monitoring, analysis and constructing knowledge about the advances and letdowns in sustainable human development in the region during the first decade of the century.
The Eighteenth State of the Nation Report provides an assessment of the progress of Costa Rica on sustainable human development.
Synopsis of the Eighteenth State of the Nation:
Summary
Moderate growth and monetary stability, but environmental management, a society and a political system in serious trouble: that is, in brief, the story of 2011. A year in which the style of development and Costa Rican democracy has not made firm progress in human development of the population.
"The country has entered a new and more dangerous phase, a clear erosion of some of the most precious historical advantages of human development."
Synopsis of the Seventeenth Report of the Nation on Sustainable Human Development:
When examined closely, 2010, a year without dramatic events, seemingly calm, reveals the seriousness of the problems experienced by human development in Costa Rica.
The Economic Situation Report at the end of the first quarter of 2011 states: Economic growth is still slow and fragile.
The global economic recovery continues, although there are still some weaknesses in the international financial condition. A 4.4% expansion is projected for 2011. However, this recovery is uneven across countries: while the developed economies are could reach 2.5% growth, in emerging and developing countries the expansion could be 6%.
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.
28.220 new companies were registered in 2009, 13.4% less than in 2008.
Just 362 companies were registered at the Public Commerce Registry in December 2009, the lowest monthly figure in the year, the average being 2.500.
"Despite the drop in creation of new companies, the number of closures was lower. 3.082 companies were closed in 2009, less than the 3.307 closed in 2008", reported Elperiodico.com.gt.
The 15th State of the Nation Report warns on rising crime, larger income disparity and misuse of natural resources.
From the report's abstract, we highlighted the following titles:
¿What is the magnitude of the crisis, and how does it affect the country?
Less access to dignifying income
Social investment levels are maintained despite GDP drop
Important deterioration in stability
15.178 new companies registered in the Mercantile Registry in the first half of the year, 1.557 less than the same period of 2008.
For the same period, individual merchant registration diminished 15.9%.
"Even though he does not give an exact breakdown by sector, Oscar Lino Marín, Mercantile Registry advisor, indicates that 'most of the new companies belong to the commerce and services sector'", stated an article in Sigloxxi.com.
Businesses reported $2.8 billion in taxable sales in February, 3.7% less than during the same period last year.
In the services sector, there was a 6.1% reduction, from $887 million in February 2008 to $838 million during the same month this year.
According to elPeriodico of Guatemala, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Jorge Briz said that "the devaluation of the quetzal is taking away from household purchasing power which then reduces consumption, and he expects that this sales trend will continue."
Between January and February 2009, 785 companies were registered, 202 fewer than during the same period in 2008.
Statistics from the Mercantile Registry published in elPeriódico of Guatemala showed that when the first two months of 2009 are compared with the same period in 2008, company registration fell by 20.4%, commercial companies by 16.6% and individual merchants by 20.5%.
A realistic look at the challenges of sustainable human development in Central America.
How is Central America doing?
A realistic look at the present and future.
The State of the Region Report is an instrument from Central America and for Central America. It purpose is to provide a follow-up to the challenges of sustainable human development in the region. It seeks to offer information and analysis the Central Americans with the objective of:
Trade between China and Costa Rica increased 37.8 per cent over the past year, after the two countries re-established diplomatic relations on June 1, 2007.
Exports of Costa Rican products to China grew by 20 percent, to 846 million dollars, while China increased its volume of sales to Costa Rica by 35 per cent, for a total of 809 million dollars.
These results place China in secon place as a trade partner of Costa Rica, with nine per cent of total exports. Only the United States does more business with this country.