Gasoline Consumption in Panama Keeps RisingMonday, September 24, 2012 Despite increasingly high prices in the first half of 2012 Panamanians consumed 7.6% more fuel compared to the same period last year. An article in Prensa.com reports that "Between January and July 2012, 135,692,000 gallons of gasoline were sold, which represents an increase of 7.6% compared to the same period last year, when 126,054,000 gallons were consumed. Steady Increase in Electricity Consumption in PanamaTuesday, February 14, 2012 In the last decade, energy consumption grew by 54%, from 4.8 million megawatts per hour in 2001 to 7.4 million in 2011. In the last ten years energy consumption has seen an average increase of 5% per year. Panama Increases Gas Consumption by 14%Monday, October 25, 2010 From January to August, fuel consumption increased 14.5% over the same period of 2009. According to the Comptroller General of the Republic, Panama also saw a 49% increase in imports of petroleum products. How Well is English Spoken in Central America?Thursday, November 20, 2014 According to Education First's English Proficiency Index, in Costa Rica the English level is low, while in Guatemala, Panama and El Salvador it is very low. Out of the 63 countries surveyed in the English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), Costa Rica ranks 43, Guatemala is No. 51, followed by Panama in position 52 and El Salvador in 53. Panama: Consumer Credit Up 7%Monday, March 13, 2017 Of the $10,000 million granted in bank loans for consumption up to November 2016, 64% were for consumer loans, 16% for car purchases and almost 20% were credit card loans. Between January and November 2016 the balance of personal loans granted by the banking system grew by 7%, going from $45.7 billion to $48.5 billion. Of the total awarded up to November 2016, 64% were personal loans. Panamanians Consuming More EggsTuesday, July 7, 2015 In 2014 production of 538 million eggs was recorded, an increase of 57% compared with 2005, when there were 342 million. The annual per capita consumption rose from 102 units in 2005 to 137 in 2014, equivalent to an increase of 34% over the last decade. Marketing experts and poultry farmers attributed the growth in egg consumption mainly to a trend in replacing beef with the poultry products. Panama: Retail Sales Grow 25.7%Thursday, June 21, 2012 Domestic trade is leading the sustained growth of the Panamanian economy, while investment in retail increases. An article in Prensa.com reports that "In the first three months of the year alone retail revenues reached $2,197,488,000, according to the Comptroller. This is an increase of 25.7%, as in the same period last year there were $1,747,931,000 registered. " Consumer Characteristics in Panama CityFriday, July 20, 2012 Price is the component with the most weight in decisions about purchasing products and services for residents of metropolitan Panama. According to a survey by Ibope Media Panama, cited in an article in Capital.com.pa, "85% of those surveyed by Ibope Media in metropolitan Panama, including Panama, La Chorrera, Arraiján, Colón, and San Miguelito, look for the lowest prices when they shop. " Consumption of Chicken Meat Up in Central AmericaThursday, October 5, 2017 Annual per capita consumption of chicken meat in Central American countries increased from 19.8 kilos in 2008 to 25.9 kilos in 2016, and growth was driven mainly by Panama. The upward trend in regional chicken meat consumption has been steady in recent years, growing from 814,000 tons in 2008 to 1.2 million tons in 2016. Demand for PorkWednesday, October 14, 2015 There is a growing trend for pork consumption, encouraged in some countries in the region by ad campaigns created by companies in the sector. An article on Eleconomista.net reports that "... Central Americans are eating more and more pork. At the head is Costa Rica, with a per capita consumption of 13 kilos in 2014. And while none of them are the same, all markets are demanding more. Taiwanese Drink More CoffeeTuesday, March 17, 2015 The Taiwan Coffee Association reports that there are up to 10,000 coffee shops on the island and that each person consumes an average of 100 cups of coffee per year. At the end of 2014, coffee exports to Taiwan were reportedly worth $2.4 million . "... El Salvador accumulated $50.52 million in sales of coffee to the world for the 2014/2015 harvest." Organic Products in PanamaTuesday, September 11, 2012 The massive arrival of foreigners has driven changes in consumer habits, among which is the growth in demand for products without chemical additives or synthetic substances. This increase in demand for organic products is reflected by the increase in space for these products on supermarket shelves and the opening of shops. Oil Palm: Another Victim of Cheap OilWednesday, October 7, 2015 As with other forms of alternative energy, high oil prices in the past boosted investment in oil palm plantations as a basis for the manufacture of biodiesel. In Central America there are a lot of people who turned towards a highly promising sector, promising even more performance than any other crop. Palm expanded not only where there are good conditions to grow it, but it was also substituted for other crops or herds areas offering lower yields. How Much English is Spoken in Central AmericaWednesday, November 4, 2015 According to the English Proficiency Index produced by Education First, Guatemala and Panama have improved, moving from the "very low" group to the "low" group, while Costa Rica and El Salvador remain stagnant at that level. The index, which the global English teaching business Education First publishes annually, defines three levels of proficiency in 70 countries worldwide. Global Retail Development Index 2011Friday, June 10, 2011 Panama is located 27th in the list of emerging markets considered attractive for retail investment, according to the U.S. consulting firm AT Kearney. The Global Retail Development Index by HV Kearney lists the most attractive countries for retail investors. |
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