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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, December 3rd 2025 - 22:18 UTC

Economy

  • Tuesday, December 31st 2024 - 10:30 UTC

    After hectic month, Paraguay's yearly inflation barely above 2023's

    The BCP aims to reach a 3.5% inflation by 2026

    Paraguay's Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew 0.7% this month, which represented a setback from 0.3% in the same month last year. Nevertheless, Asunción confirmed closing 2024 with a 3.8% inflation, barely over 2023's 3.7%, according to the Central Bank (BCP), and therefore within the target range of 4%, it was explained Monday. On a brighter note, core inflation stood at 0.3% in December for a yearly variation of 3.4%, which meant progress from the 3.6% registered in 2023.

  • Monday, December 30th 2024 - 23:13 UTC

    Brazil's financial markets adjust 2025 projections for the worse

    The BCB's Focus Bulletin maintained its forecast for the Selic basic interest rate of 14.75% per annum in 2025

    Monday's issue of Brazil's Central Bank's (BCB) Focus Bulletin twitched last week's 2025 slightly for the worse, with higher inflation and a smaller Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Agencia Brasil reported. The study showed that the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA) should end 2025 at 4.96% from the 4.86% forecast last week. It was the 11th adjustment to the inflation projection and the ninth to the exchange rate between the local real and the US dollar.

  • Monday, December 30th 2024 - 10:58 UTC

    Hard times ahead for Lula and Brazilian Real, the most devalued currency in 2024

    Lula da Silva recovering from head injuries and surgery

    US dollar expectations in the Brazilian market are beating forecasts having reached R$ 6.30 in December, (from 4.85 in January 2024) making the Brazilian Real one of the largest currencies of emerging countries, as the most devalued during 2024, despite the Central Bank pumping some US$ 17 billion to the market hoping to contain the slide.

  • Monday, December 30th 2024 - 10:30 UTC

    Argentine SMEs post 21.7% improvement in exports

    SMEs also fear a barrage of layoffs next year after imported products flood the domestic market given the current strength of the local peso against the US dollar

    Argentina's Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (CAME) reported this weekend that exports between January and November exceeded US$ 9 billion, representing a 21.7% growth in shipments and 27.5% in tonnage, mainly to Brazil and Chile. Overall, South America accounted for 33.1% of sales.

  • Saturday, December 28th 2024 - 09:48 UTC

    Brazil: Unemployment in November hits lowest figures since 2014

    IBGE's Beringuy highlighted “the expansion of employment through various economic activities”

    Unemployment in South America's largest country reached 6.1% in the quarter ending last month, Agencia Brasil reported Friday citing figures from Brazil's Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). It was the lowest rate in this time series dating back to the first quarter of 2012.

  • Saturday, December 28th 2024 - 09:05 UTC

    Rousseff offers Uruguay NDB financing opportunities

    “Uruguay is used to working with other historical entities, and this is very new,” Orsi said after meeting with Rousseff

    Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who now chairs the BRICS' New Development Bank (NDB) said Friday after meeting with Uruguay's President-elect Yamandú Orsi at the latter's transition headquarters that the South American country was “best positioned” to access financing at lower rates for digital, social infrastructure, and education developments.

  • Friday, December 27th 2024 - 19:43 UTC

    Supermarket sales keep dropping in Argentina

    The Indec also reported a constant process of higher indebtedness by the average consumer

    Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec) released Thursday a report mentioning that supermarket sales fell 17.8% yoy in October as consumption continues to fall. Sales in shopping malls and wholesalers also dropped.

  • Friday, December 27th 2024 - 10:07 UTC

    IMF approves US$245 million disbursement for Paraguay

    The IMF found that economic activity in Paraguay “continues to be dynamic.”

    After concluding the fourth review of the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) with Paraguay as well as the second one on the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (SRS), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a disbursement of US$186.28 million in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) representing nearly US$ 245 million to help the South American country's green energy matrix expansion.

  • Thursday, December 26th 2024 - 08:35 UTC

    Argentine meat exports to Philippines approved

    The two countries also agreed on a reciprocal control and certification scheme

    Argentina has been cleared to start poultry, pork, beef cuts on the bone, and gibblets to the Philippines through an agreement also contemplating reciprocity between the two countries' control and certification systems, which will speed future approvals, it was announced in Buenos Aires.

  • Monday, December 23rd 2024 - 22:19 UTC

    Nissan and Honda sign MOU toward merger by 2026

    ”It is necessary to make a bolder change than a collaboration in specific areas,” Mibe said

    It was more than rumors that Japanese automotive giants Nissan and Honda were eyeing a merger by 2026 which would revolutionize the industry with the appearance of what in Reuters' view would be the third-largest auto group worldwide. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding whereby discussions about integration via a joint holding company would go on during 2025, it was announced. Earlier this month, Nissan's CEO Makoto Uchida admitted that the company's situation was “severe.”