Economy

Saturday, January 30th 2021 - 09:34 UTC
One for Bolsonaro: Brazil almost broke; primary deficit reaches 10% of GDP

Only a week ago, President Jair Bolsonaro said Brazil was “broke” and the latest Treasury numbers have come close to backing the statement. Last year the country reported a record primary budget deficit of 743.1 billion reais (US$138 billion), a record 10% of GDP.
Saturday, January 30th 2021 - 09:23 UTC
US economy hazy despite S&P surge, ten million workers jobless and record high unemployment applications

The United States grew at a 4% annual rate in the final three months of 2020 and shrank last year by the largest amount in 74 years. The coronavirus inflicted the worst economic freeze since the end of World War II, the economy contracted 3.5% and clouded the outlook for this year.
Friday, January 29th 2021 - 08:55 UTC
Argentina expected to grow 5,4% in 2021, far from mitigating pandemic's impact

The International Monetary Fund, IMF, lowered Argentina's growth estimate for this year to 4,5% from its previous 4.9% forecast, according to the World Economic Outlook, WEO, delivered this week and which includes some forty countries, among which Argentina since it is a member of G20.
Friday, January 29th 2021 - 08:55 UTC
Canada and Uruguay, the Americas' countries with the less corruption perception

Transparency International has released its 2020 Corruption Perception Index, which is not very generous with Latin American countries, including Mercosur members Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, with Uruguay the great exception and best-ranked in the Americas behind Canada.
Friday, January 29th 2021 - 08:07 UTC
Stanley's RPI drops in last quarter: reduced cost of fuel and power

The Falkland Islands capital, Stanley Retail Price Index (RPI) indicated that the cost of living has dropped again in the last quarter of 2020 after a steady increase in the previous two quarters.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:59 UTC
Uruguay will partially reopen its borders as of February

Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou announced on Wednesday the partial lifting of the borders' total closure which had been established last December 20, but all other measures that had been announced on that date remain in full compliance.
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:42 UTC
Brazil on the brink of financial default, points out the Financial Times

Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been s skeptical of the coronavirus pandemic and the effectiveness of different vaccines to contain it, arguing that the economy, jobs and activity, were the priority above sanitary recommendations. As a result of this approach, his administration's federal spending jumped almost 40% between January and November, according to the Institute of International Finance. And Bolsonaro had even admitted the country is “broke.”
Thursday, January 28th 2021 - 09:37 UTC
Argentine traders and millers discussing options to avoid a ban on wheat exports

Argentina is worried about domestic food prices and inflation, and as it happened a few weeks ago with an attempt to ban corn exports, a similar situation apparently is happening with wheat, and the different actors involved are working on measures aimed at securing the wheat supply and reasonable bread and pasta prices.
Wednesday, January 27th 2021 - 09:20 UTC
China recovers pre-pandemic growth and is expected to expand 8,1% in 2021 and 5,6% in 2022, IMF

IMF projects China's economy will grow 8.1% in 2021 and 5.6% in 2022. The global growth is expected to be 5.5% in 2021 and 4.2% in 2022 after an estimated 3.5% contraction in 2020, according to the latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) released on Tuesday.
Wednesday, January 27th 2021 - 09:06 UTC
New Zealand and China upgraded their free trade agreement: Bad news for Mercosur

China and New Zealand signed the upgrading protocol of their free trade agreement (FTA) via video link on Tuesday with new commitments in trade market entry, investment, and other key aspects.