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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, February 25th 2026 - 08:26 UTC

Tag: Central Bank of Uruguay

  • Monday, February 16th 2026 - 13:28 UTC

    Uruguay's Conexión Ganadera case: founder’s daughter moved $15.9m, BCU says

    The largest share of Marcela Carrasco’s transfers went to Puente Corredor de Bolsa S.A., totaling US$ 4,700,620, all reportedly sent in 2018

    Uruguay’s Conexión Ganadera investigation — a criminal case stemming from the collapse of a livestock-linked investment operation that led to fraud charges and, in some instances, money-laundering allegations — has moved forward after the Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU) sent prosecutors a report detailing bank transfers made by Marcela Carrasco, the daughter of Pablo Carrasco, a founder of the firm who is currently in pre-trial detention and charged with money laundering.

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  • Tuesday, February 3rd 2026 - 22:12 UTC

    Uruguay’s peso the most “overvalued” currency as it tops Big Mac index ranking

    While the Big Mac Index is a light, illustrative gauge rather than an official exchange-rate model, the result lands amid a local debate on competitiveness and a weak dollar

    Uruguay’s peso has been labelled the world’s most “overvalued” currency against the U.S. dollar on a GDP-per-capita-adjusted basis, according to the latest Big Mac Index published by The Economist and cited by Uruguayan media. Under the adjusted methodology, the peso is estimated to be 83.9% above its implied “long-run equilibrium.” In the unadjusted ranking, Uruguay places second, with 43.1% overvaluation, behind the Swiss franc.

  • Thursday, January 29th 2026 - 00:01 UTC

    Uruguay’s farm sector warns low dollar threatens jobs as peso strength squeezes exports

    The warning comes as the government flags concern over the exchange rate. MEF said the peso–dollar path hurts exports and import-competing sectors. Photo: Sebastián Astorga

    Uruguay’s Rural Association (ARU) is warning that the slide in the U.S. dollar is pushing the farm sector into a “critical situation,” arguing that while a stronger peso may feel beneficial for people paid in local currency, the broader impact can be job losses in export-oriented activities.

  • Tuesday, January 27th 2026 - 10:18 UTC

    Uruguay Central Bank accelerates easing, cuts key rate to 6.5% as dollar hits lows

    Dollar trades near May 2024 levels in Uruguay, at 38.62 pesos buy and 40.58 sell. The currency fell about 11% in 2025 and a further 4% so far in 2026.

    Uruguay’s Central Bank (BCU) cut its benchmark policy rate by 100 basis points to 6.5% and said monetary policy “enters an expansionary phase,” framing the move as a way to prevent inflation from drifting away from its 4.5% target and to respond to recent strains in the foreign-exchange market.

  • Tuesday, January 6th 2026 - 09:06 UTC

    Uruguay records lowest yearly inflation in over two decades

    BCU President Guillermo Tolosa signaled that the bank may enter an “expansionary phase” in 2026

    Uruguay's inflation last year fell below the Central Bank’s (BCU) official target of 4.5%, hitting 3.65% after December's -0.09%, making President Yamandú Orsi's first annual National Institute of Statistics (INE) report a historic one with figures not recorded since 2001.

  • Saturday, July 5th 2025 - 10:53 UTC

    Uruguay's inflation closer to target

    Tolosa highlighted the effectiveness of using interest rates as a monetary policy tool

    Uruguay's year-on-year inflation rate dropped to 4.59% in June, marking its fourth consecutive monthly decline. This figure is very close to Uruguay's Central Bank (BCU) target of 4.5% and keeps inflation within the 3% to 6% tolerance range for the 25th consecutive month.

  • Friday, March 21st 2025 - 10:17 UTC

    Uruguay’s economy rebounded in 2024, but growth expected to slow in 2025

    The agriculture, energy, and manufacturing sectors saw the strongest performance, with energy growing by 19.6% and agriculture by 11.3%.

    Uruguay’s economy expanded by 3.1% in 2024, recovering from a severe drought the previous year, according to national accounts data released by the Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU). However, economists warn that growth in 2025 is likely to return to the country's historical pace of slower expansion.

  • Thursday, February 6th 2025 - 08:23 UTC

    Uruguay's inflation reaches 1.1% in January

    The interannual index fell within the Government's target range

    Uruguay's Consumer Price Index (CPI) went up 1.1% last month and 5.05% interannually, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) said in a report released Wednesday in Montevideo. Wednesday's figures represented a slight improvement for President Luis Lacalle Pou's administration after recording 1.53% in January 2024 for a 5.09% yoy.

  • Wednesday, January 29th 2025 - 20:07 UTC

    Financial scandal in Uruguay: Conexión Ganadera and the model that ended up as a Ponzi scheme

    Founded in 1999, Conexión Ganadera grew after the 2002 crisis, offering livestock investments as an alternative to traditional banking.

    The collapse of Conexión Ganadera, one of Uruguay's leading cattle investment firms, has left hundreds of savers in suspense after it was revealed that its financial model operated as a Ponzi scheme. This was stated by accountant Ricardo Giovio, hired by the company to evaluate its situation.

  • Tuesday, December 24th 2024 - 10:31 UTC

    Uruguay's BCU ups basic interest rate

    Uruguay's core inflation was above target for two months in a row, the BCU warned

    Uruguay's Central Bank (BCU) Monetary Policy Committee decided Monday to raise the TPM benchmark interest rate from 8.5% to 8.75% in a move to make inflation and expectations “meet” at 4.5% annually over the last 24 months. It was the first twitch to the TPM since April when it was cut from from 9%.

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