Economic Tracker

The outlook for the Central America and Caribbean economies is expected to stay bleak in 2020, registering technical recession in Q2–Q3 of 2020 and a full year recession for 2021. Local and global containment measures, along with the economies’ large dependence on tourism and remittances particularly coming from the United States, have led to a...

The Americas are expected to record tepid growth in 2020, higher than that of 2019. Advanced economies such as the US and Canada are likely to witness an economic rebound in 2020. Other smaller economies like Panama and Chile are poised to grow as well. However, Argentina’s growth is likely to remain contracted on account of currency deterioratio...

The economic outlook for Western Europe is expected to stay muted in 2020. The US-China trade wars, global economic slowdown, and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit have softened external demand, affecting export-based economies such as Germany. While unemployment rates have been low and stable across most of Western Europe, job growth has plateaue...

Emerging European economies are gradually registering a positive economic growth, stemming from a sensible monetary policy from the European Central Bank. However, the reliance of the Ukrainian and Turkish economies on external financing, as a result of the ongoing critical period in these countries, has remained a major area of concern in 2014.

Strong GDP growth supported by resilient domestic demand, prudent fiscal policies, and improved business sentiments is expected for the North American countries in Q1 2015, regardless of the slowdown and uncertainty in the global economy

Western European countries are experiencing a slowdown in economic growth, but the trend is uneven across the region. Purchasing Manager’s Index gave a reading of 52.1 in October 2014 (a reading above 50 signifies an expansion in output). Although major economies such as Spain and Germany reported an increase in new business opportunities, others...

Western Europe is expected to maintain its growth momentum in the latter half of 2014 but high inflation, high unemployment, and political instability prevalent in some major countries will hamper growth. Increase in domestic and external demand is expected to further improve manufacturing production, thus stimulating growth in the next two quarter...

North American growth continued to accelerate in Q3 2014 following the strong Q2 performance. The energy sector boom, resulting in low fuel-prices and strong public-sector spending—despite modest consumer spending growth, supported strong economic expansion of the region in Q3 2014. The rise in real wages and dwindling unemployment will keep cons...

As recovery continues in this region, growth trends have been observed to be uneven across the economies, while domestic demands remain a key growth driver in major countries. Reforming labor market conditions remain top priority, which will be instrumental in enhancing business confidence and competitiveness. Weaker Euro area recovery and market i...