In October 2019, the Monthly Index of Economic Activity in the Dominican Republic reported a 5.2% year-on-year increase, explained by the construction and exploitation of mines and quarries.
The Monthly Indicator of Economic Activity (IMAE) shows for the second consecutive month a growth above the potential, recording a 5.2% year-on-year variation in October 2019 after having expanded by 5.1% in September, reported the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD).
In Guatemala, 54% of businessmen believe that in 2020 the local economy will accelerate, 42% believe that stable growth will be reported and 4% believe that a slowdown could be reported.
According to the Third Business Perception Survey conducted by the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (Cacif), 67% of respondents expect greater growth of their companies and 56% expect more employment with the arrival of the new government.
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. As to December 2020 and 2021, the Panel foresees an inflationary rhythm of 3.98% and 4.27%, in that order, explains the report of the Banco de 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.
In the first nine months of the year, the Volume Index of Economic Activity and the sales indicator of FUSADES reported positive variations, however, they are lower compared to what was recorded in the same period of 2018.
According to the "Economic Situation Report up to November 2019", prepared by the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES), the Salvadoran economy has experienced a tendency to lose dynamism, in the second quarter of 2019, economic activity grew only 1.98%, which is lower than the 2.71% recorded a year ago.
According to the Central Bank, the constructive activity and consumption spending that Guatemalans make with the money received from abroad will boost the economy by the end of 2019, and this expansive cycle could extend until 2020.
During this year residential and commercial construction, together with public investment, have affected activities such as manufacturing, mining and quarrying, private services and commerce, informed representatives of the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat).
During September 2019, the Monthly Economic Activity Index reported a 4% year-on-year variation, higher than the registered in August, when it rose to 3.2%.
Among the categories of economic activity that showed a favorable behavior were: commerce, transportation, storage and communications, financial intermediation, agriculture, public administration, construction, electricity and water, exploitation of mines and quarries, and domestic services, informed the General Comptroller of the Republic.
As a result of the economic slowdown and the imbalance in public finances, Costa Rica faces a complex and high-risk future, in which the margins for action and maneuver will be increasingly limited.
The State of the Nation 2019 report explains that the economic slowdown and imbalance in public finances created a scenario of great complexity and risk, both economic and political, which aggravated the structural weaknesses or "blind spots" of the national development style.
In its latest update of economic growth projections for 2019, ECLAC estimates that the Dominican Republic will close the year with a 5% increase, followed by Panama, which would reach a growth rate of 3.7%.
According to economic growth projections for Latin America, which were estimated by the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) and updated in November, the Dominican Republic will be the country in the region that will increase its production the most this year.
For the authorities of the Central Bank, the economy begins to show signs of recovery, because for four consecutive months the economic activity has registered a positive performance.
In June of this year, the Monthly Economic Activity Index (IMAE) began to show signs of recovery, recording a 1.2% year-on-year increase. In July and August, positive variations continued, with 1.4% and 1.7% increases reported, respectively.
According to the IMF, Honduras has experienced a moderation in economic growth in recent quarters, but a recovery is expected next year.
Honduras has made significant progress in implementing its economic program, which aims to foster inclusive growth through prudent macroeconomic policies and structural and governance reforms, according to the international organization's report.
After year-on-year variations of 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively, will be reported in Costa Rica in July and August, in September the IMAE grew 2%, again explained by the performance of the special regimes manufacturing sector.
The growth of the Monthly Economic Activity Index (IMAE) in August was driven by the production of special regimes (free zone and active perfecting), which grew at a 12% year-on-year rate, according to information from the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
During September, the IMAE registered a 2.7% year-on-year increase, mainly because of the performance of Construction and Commercial Activity.
At the end of the third quarter of the current year, the original IMAE series reached 2.7% cumulative variation (3.5% in the same period in 2018). Meanwhile, the trend cycle series showed a 2.2% year-on-year variation (3.8% in September 2018), reported the Central Bank of Honduras.
For the IMF, the Salvadoran authorities are dealing firmly with crime and corruption and are beginning to improve the business environment in order to support economic growth.
In 2019, real GDP growth is expected to be 2.5% as a result of the solid confidence of the business sector, reported the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after its visit to El Salvador.
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