Regarding what is expected economically for 2021, in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama and Honduras there is more optimism among consumers, while in Guatemala and Costa Rica the percentage of people who believe that the situation will improve this year is lower.
According to the survey conducted by Kantar to measure the perception of households in Central America, at regional level 12% of consumers consulted believe that the economic situation in their country will improve during 2021, 23% expect it to be the same and 65% predict that it will be worse.
Although the restrictions imposed by the pandemic have been relaxed, consumers continue to show signs of mistrust in the current situation, behavior that could put pressure downward on spending on products and services considered to be discretionary.
In 2020, when the effects of the pandemic that caused the spread of covid-19 began to become evident, it was anticipated that consumer habits would change, since in a complicated economic scenario full of uncertainty, people would be more careful when spending.
The pessimism expressed by consumers in Costa Rica and the constant deterioration of business expectations in Guatemala reflect part of the complex challenges faced by Central American economies this year.
A report prepared by the School of Statistics of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) shows the negative trend that come showing the economic expectations, because between February 2018 and the same month of 2019, the Consumer Confidence Index (ICC) fell 15%.
In September, Consumer Confidence Index was 112 points, eight points higher than results in the previous month (104).
The measurements were made by consultants The Marketing Group for the Chamber of Commerce of Panama, it shows that consumers are confident that home situation in the future will improve, since the indicator remains 20 points above critical point.
As of June, the consumer confidence index was 114.9 points, 8.3 points higher than that of the previous month (106.7).
The General Manager of The Marketing Group, the company in charge of conducting the survey along with the Chamber of Commerce, expressed that “future consumer confidence related to home and country situation, appears to be positive, due to the hopes that Panamanians have for the next government.”
Situation Report for March 2009 by the Executive Secretary of the Central American Monetary Council (SECMCA).
The Central American - Dominican Republic region could experience economic stagnation or a slight decline in 2009. According to what was published in the February report, econometric projections of regional economic growth already considered that the area of economic stagnation is at its bottom point.
The Panamanian Consumer Confidence Index (ICCP) for the month of August was 101.8 points, that is, 11.9 points higher than that recorded in July, according to revelations by GfK The Marketing Group.
The budget payments for month 13 and recent measures announced by the government regarding social initiatives helped in part to improve the ICCP for August, after many months of having a negative tendency.
The indicator that is closely monitored by businesses improved in July by 1.3 points in relation to June.
Despite the fact that the Panama Consumer Confidence Index (ICCP) is still below the critical point of 100, the perception is that consumer confidence improved in Julio when the ICCP rose 1.3 points from the previous month.
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