Explained again by the performance of transport and communications services, and hotels and restaurants, in February 2019 a 3.7% year-on-year variation in economic activity was reported.
From the General Comptroller's Office report:
The Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE) in the Republic increased by 3.65% in February 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
During the third month of the year, it was forecast that GDP growth at the end of 2019 will be at 3.9%, and by 2020 the variation is expected to be 4.1%.
In March 2019, the Index of Confidence in Economic Activity was 65% (63.5%), where 46.2% is because of the result of current economic activity and 53.8% because of future activity (46% and 54% in the previous month, respectively), reported the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH).
The cheapest, most adaptable and irreplaceable brands are those preferred by consumers in Guatemala's current economic context.
4AM Saatchi & Saatchi White Rabbit together with Prensalibre.com carried out a study in the Guatemalan market, with the intention of understanding the reasons for the change in consumer behavior in the last two years, in a context of economic slowdown.
A drastic fall in productive activity, outflows of investments and the disappearance of thousands of formal jobs are some of the consequences a year after the political and economic crisis in Nicaragua.
In March 2018, CentralAmericaData reported the figures that reflected the economic boom that Nicaragua was experiencing: formal employment grew at a year-on-year rate of close to 3%, economic activity each month recorded year-on-year growth rates of between 4% and 5%, while consumption and imports increased. Only a month later, on Friday, April 19, a series of events occurred that determined a radical change in the trend observed until then. The announcement of the reform of the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute triggered a social, political and economic crisis that the country is suffering so far.
For the IDB, investment in infrastructure is the most important priority when increasing the probability of improving productivity and reaching higher per capita income levels in the countries of the region.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) published its report "Building Opportunities for Growth in a Challenging World," in which it addresses the benefits of infrastructure investment and its influence on productivity growth in the countries of the region.
During the first two months of 2019, family remittances received by the country totaled $247 million, 7% more than what was reported for the same period in 2017.
According to published monthly data, remittances totaled $122.3 million in the second month of the year, which represented a 4.6% year-on-year variation with respect to the $116.9 million recorded in February 2018, informed the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN).
Guatemalan businessmen assure that the change from Stable to Negative made by Fitch Ratings in the country's risk perspective should be taken seriously, since investments could stagnate.
On April 11, Fitch announced that it maintained its "BB" rating for long-term foreign currency debt default, but decided to modify the outlook because the country reflects political tension and greater uncertainty in agents, as well as a constant erosion in the government's low tax collection.
For the IMF, the country "may need additional fiscal measures, focused on the short term, to alleviate financing pressures and improve debt dynamics.”
After analyzing the current economic situation in Costa Rica, the directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) commended the recent fiscal reform, which is important to restore fiscal sustainability. They recommended the full and timely implementation of fiscal reform to improve market confidence and reconstitute fiscal space to handle potential shocks and large contingent liabilities, especially in pensions. However, they believe that additional measures may be needed.
During the first quarter of the year, family remittances sent to the country totaled $1.298 million, 6% more than what was reported in the same period of 2018.
Family remittances from El Salvador totaled $1,297.7 million in the first quarter of 2019, presenting a 5.9% growth, $72.5 million higher than the income received under this concept in the same period of the previous year, informed the Central Reserve Bank (BCR).
Fitch Ratings confirmed the long-term foreign currency debt default rating of "BB", but changed the outlook from stable to negative.
The review of Guatemala's negative outlook reflects political tension and greater uncertainty in agents, as well as a constant erosion in the government's low tax collection, the rating agency argued.
Mainly because of the economic activity reported in the financial and services sector, during February the IMAE in Honduras grew 3.7% with respect to the same month in 2017.
For its contribution to the overall result of the indicator, the following activities are noteworthy: Financial Intermediation, Insurance and Pension Funds, Post and Telecommunications, Trade; Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Fisheries, Private Construction, Hotels and Restaurants, and Electricity and Water, reported the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH).
From January to March of this year, the country received $1.185 million in family remittances, an amount 10.1% higher than that reported in the first quarter of 2018.
Figures from the Central Bank of Honduras indicate that during the first three months of this year the country received family remittances of $1,185 million, a figure that is $109 million higher than the $1,076 registered in the first two months of 2018.
In February 2019 in Costa Rica the Monthly Index of Economic Activity reported a 1.7% year on year increase, mainly because of the behavior of construction and services.
In February 2019, the country's production, measured with the Monthly Economic Activity Index, registered a 1.7% year-on-year variation, higher by 0.12% (p.p.) than the data registered in December (month that presented the lowest growth of 2018). With this result the variation of the last twelve months stood at 2.4%, reported the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR).
After in January and February of this year the year-on-year variation of the CPI was only 0.7% and 1.2%, respectively, in March the inflationary rhythm in the country increased slightly to 1.5%.
0.65% variation with respect to February, placing accumulated inflation at 0.86% at the end of the first quarter of the year, informed the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD).
For the Guatemalan private sector, the uncertainty that prevails in the country is because the details of the government programs of the political parties that will participate in the General Elections are not known until now.
Last March 18 officially began the political campaign for the General Elections in the country, but the legal inconveniences faced by some candidates for the presidency cause doubts in the future, since there is no clarity of who will participate in the process and the government plans of the candidates are not known in depth.
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