Construction Improves Economic ActivityMonday, December 9, 2019 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). Guatemala: Recruitment Expectations for 2020Wednesday, December 11, 2019 After in the fourth quarter of 2019, 15% of companies reported that they planned to increase their payrolls, for the first quarter of 2020 this proportion drops to 12%. Guatemalan employers report moderate hiring intentions for the first quarter of 2020. With 12% of employers expecting an increase in their workforces, 5% predicting a decrease and 83% remaining unchanged, reported Manpower. Remittances Total $9.567 Million up to NovemberThursday, December 5, 2019 From January to November 2019, family remittances sent to Guatemala totaled $9,567 million, 13% more than what was reported in the same period in 2018. According to the most recent figures from the Bank of Guatemala, in November 2019 the country received $819 million in remittances, 8% more than the $757 million recorded in the same month in 2018. Rebound in Exports, Despite the CrisisTuesday, December 10, 2019 In a context of economic recession, Nicaraguan exports have recorded good performance, as to November 2019 revenues totaled $2,536 million, 4% higher than reported in the same period of 2018. Figures from the Centro de Tramites de Exportaciones (Cetrex) detail that between January and November 2018 and the same period in 2019, foreign sales increased by $89 million, going from $2,447 million to $2,536 million. Electricity: Thermal Generation DoublesFriday, December 6, 2019 Partly determined by the behavior of the energy supply from thermal sources, between January and October 2018 and the same period in 2019 the electricity generation in Panama grew 120%. According to the latest report of the General Comptroller's Office of Panama, in the first ten months of 2019 9,253 million kWh were generated, which is equivalent to an increase of 3% with respect to the 8,990 million offered in the same period of 2018. Nicaragua: Public Debt Increases to 3%Wednesday, December 4, 2019 As of August 2019, the balance of the country's public external debt reached $6,116 million, 3% higher than the amount reported at the close of 2018. Between December 2018 and August 2019, the ratio of debt to GDP also increased, from 45.4% to 49.3%, according to the most recent report by the Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development (Funides). Construction: Investment Falls 9% up to October 2019Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Construction activity in Panama continues to decline, as in the first ten months of the year were reported $1,016 million in new construction, additions and repairs, 9% less than in the same period in 2018. The most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic, explains that in October of this year the cost of new constructions, additions and repairs totaled $131 million, which is identical to the amount reported in the same month of 2018. Costa Rica: Cattle Herd Grows 5%Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Between 2017 and 2018, the number of cattle rose from 1.49 million to 1.58 million, an increase of 5%. The National Agricultural Survey (ENA) prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, specifies that of the total number of cattle counted in 2018, 61.8% corresponds to meat production, 15.8% was allocated to milk production, 22.2% dual purpose and finally, working animals represent 0.2%. Panama: Unemployment Rises to 7.1%Monday, December 2, 2019 Between August 2018 and the same month in 2019, the proportion of unemployed persons as a share of the total economically active population grew from 6% to 7.1%. The national unemployed population was 146,111 people, as observed in the Labor Market Survey of August 2019, a figure that is 27,773 higher compared to the same period in 2018, reported the General Comptroller of the Republic. Tourism: Income Doesn't ImproveMonday, November 25, 2019 Between January and August 2019, approximately 1.5 million tourists arrived in Panama, generating revenues of close to $3,314 million, 1% less than the amount reported in the same period of 2018. The most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama details that between the first eight months of 2018 and the same period of 2019, the expenditure made by tourists who arrived in the country decreased by $32 million, going from $3.346 million to $3.314 million. Manufacturing Activity Grows 15%Thursday, November 28, 2019 During October, in the Dominican Republic the Monthly Manufacturing Activity Index registered a 15% increase with respect to the previous month, variation that is explained by a greater volume of sales and production. The Monthly Manufacturing Activity Index (IMAM) of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD) rose from 54.1 in September 2019 to 62.3 in October, showing an upward trend, after two consecutive months of decline, says the union report. Guatemala: 2.9% Y-o-Y InflationTuesday, December 10, 2019 During November, the CPI registered a 2.9% variation with respect to the same month of 2018, an inflationary rhythm higher than the 4.2% rate reported in October. The most important inflation levels in November 2019 are as follows: 0.44% monthly inflation, 2.92% inflation and 2.79% accumulated inflation, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). Panama: Labor Hiring Falls to 15%Friday, November 29, 2019 From January to October of this year, 188,015 work contracts were registered in the country, 15% less than the figure reported in the same period of 2018. The reports of the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development detail that between the first ten months of 2018 and the same period of 2019, the types of indefinite contracts registered a decrease, falling from 62,635 to 47,234. Salvadoran Economy Grows, but SlowlyThursday, November 28, 2019 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. Inflationary Rhythm Still DeceleratingFriday, December 6, 2019 In Costa Rica, the inflationary rhythm slowed for the fourth consecutive month, as in November the CPI reported a year-on-year variation of 1.86%, below the 2.07% reported in October. During November, the goods and services that showed the greatest positive effect were: onion, gasoline and tourist packages. |
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