As part of the health emergency generated by the spread of covid-19, the Bank of Guatemala decided to reduce the prime interest rate again, from 2.25% to 2%.
The Monetary Board considered that, in the last few days, the perspectives of world economic growth for 2020 have deteriorated considerably, due to the persistent propagation of the coronavirus, which has increased the volatility and uncertainty at a global level, informed the Bank of Guatemala.
Arguing that the economic activity and the execution of public expenditure report a behavior attached to the growth forecasts for 2019, the Central Bank decided to maintain again at 2.75% the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy.
From the Banco de Guatemala statement:
Guatemala, November 28, 2019. The Monetary Board, in its session celebrated on November 27, based on the integral analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, decided to keep the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy at 2.75%.
Arguing that the economic activity reports a behavior attached to the forecasts of growth for 2019, the Central Bank decided to maintain in 2.75% the level of the leading interest rate of monetary policy.
The inflation forecasts for 2019 and 2020 are located within the tolerance margin of the goal established by the Monetary Board, was another of the arguments of the monetary authority to keep the reference rate without variations.
In the last week of September, the first round of negotiations for the deepening and extension of the Partial Scope Agreement between the two countries is scheduled to take place in Havana.
The second round of negotiations will take place in Guatemala City during the week of October 7-11 this year, and will analyze in depth access to markets and rules of origin, in order to advance in the exchange of negotiating positions, informed the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala (Mineco).
For the third time, in this year, the Banco de Guatemala confirmed that it decided to keep the monetary policy rate at 2.75%, since the short term indicators of the economic activity show a dynamism that adjusts to the expected.
From the Banco de Guatemala press release:
Guatemala, May 30, 2019. The Monetary Board, in its session held on May 29, based on the integral analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, decided to keep the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy at 2.75%.
For the Banco de Guatemala the behavior of several short term indicators follows the prognosis, the institution decided to keep the monetary policy rate without changes.
From the Banco de Guatemala press release:
Guatemala, April 25, 2019. The Monetary Board, in its session held on April 24, based on the integral analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, decided to keep the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy at 2.75%.
Banco de Guatemala decided to keep the monetary policy rate at 2.75%, arguing that several short-term indicators of the economic activity show a dynamism congruent with the projected range of economic growth.
Other reasons to keep the leading rate without variants is that the prognosis and inflation expectations, for 2019 as well as for 2020, are located within the tolerance limit of the goal (4% +/- 1%), according to the Banco de Guatemala.
The plan being designed by the Guatemalan government is in the revision phase, and has the aim of encouraging production of the sector and relations between producers and consumers.
Regarding the objectives of the new policy being prepared by the authorities, Pablo Girón, head of the unit of the National Council for Agricultural Development (Conadea) at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga), explained to Prensalibre.com that "...'The idea is to make economic development strategies for fruit production, with a vision, mission and pointing northwards, in the direction of where we want to go towards the future'."
Arguing that the behavior of the main indicators of the local economy and the current growth conditions are congruent, Banco de Guatemala has decided to keep the monetary policy rate as it is.
Banco de Guatemala reported that based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, it has decided to maintain the level of the leading interest monetary policy rate at 2.75%.
In Guatemala, the National Competitiveness Policy has come into force, which aims to promote development through 11 economic clusters.
The Ministry of Economy reported that the National Competitiveness Policy, which is part of the 2018-2032 period, will focus on "... the 11 clusters chosen from a list of 25 that had been previously identified, those being: forestry, fruits and vegetables, processed foods, beverages, textile clothing and footwear, metalworking, light manufacturing, tourism and health services, TIC's software & Contact Centers, transport and logistics, construction."
Citing congruence between the recent figures on remittances and economic growth with those estimated for this year, the Banco de Guatemala has decided to keep the monetary policy rate unchanged.
From a statement issued by the Bank of Guatemala:
Guatemala, April 26, 2018.The Monetary Board, in its session held on April 25, based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after having seen the Balance of Inflation Risks, decided to maintain the level of the leader monetary policy interest rate at 2.75%.
The plan proposed by the Morales administration to increase the country's competitiveness focuses on the development of forestry, agriculture, textiles, clothing and footwear, metalworking, light manufacturing, tourism and construction, among other things.
Authorities at the National Program for Competitiveness -Pronacom- presented guidelines for the National Competitiveness Policy 2018-2032. This set of strategies, which aims to establish guidelines on competitiveness at the national and regional level for the next 15 years, was developed jointly by the productive sector, public sector, academia and civil society.
The Central Bank has reduced the outlook for economic growth this year, arguing that there has been a slow recovery of the global economy and a slowdown in some sectors at the local level.
The Bank of Guatemala has reduced the expected growth rate for 2017 from a range of 3% to 3.4% to a range between 3% and 3.4%.At the local level it is estimated that one ofthe activities that will show reduced performance is construction, whose expected growth rate fell from 3.6% to 3.4%.
The Bank of Guatemala projects a slight downward trend in interest rates in the banking system in 2017 and growth of between 7% and 10% in credit to the private sector.
From the report "Performance in 2016 and Prospects for 2017" by the Bank of Guatemala:
Growth in economic activity, as measured by gross domestic product in real terms, is estimated to have grown 3.1% in 2016; while in 2017 it will grow in a range of between 3.0% and 3.8%, close to the average growth in 2011-2016 with positive growth in almost all economic activities, both in 2016 and in 2017.
The Bank of Guatemala has left the monetary policy rate unchanged, citing uncertainty and weakness in the international context, and expects growth of 4.9% in GDP in 2017.
In the domestic environment the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat) stressed that economic activity continues to record behavior consistent with the target range for 2016 (between 3.1% and 3.7%), which is reflected in the evolution of severaleconomic activity indicators (Monthly Index of economic activity, bank credit to the private sector in domestic currency, volume of imports and remittances, among other things).
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