Inflation in Uruguay during February reached 1.66% which is equivalent to 9.82% in the last twelve months, the third highest in South America behind Venezuela and Argentina.
Brazil would like free-trade talks between the European Union and Mercosur to include Argentina, but would be prepared to proceed without its regional ally if an understanding can't be reached on March 7, according to the head of Brazil's farming confederation.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica is scheduled to attend a reception on Saturday at Argentina's tall ship Libertad, which together with several similar vessels is participating in the '2014 Latin American Sails' tour of thirteen Latin American and Caribbean ports, and on Friday arrived to Punta del Este.
Uruguay's GDP this year is expected to expand by 3%, below the original estimate of 4%, according to Economy minister Mario Bergara currently in the United States on a tour to promote investments in the country and who was interviewed by Bloomberg.
A majority of Uruguayans, 55%, believe their country must support Argentina's sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands but an overwhelming 80% also want closer trade links with the Islands and reject the ban on Falklands flagged vessels to operate from Montevideo or other Uruguayan ports. In both cases neutral opinions range 11% and 12%.
Coach Luis Filipe Scolari says he wants Brazil to banish the ghosts of 1950, when his country last hosted the World Cup and lost the final in a defeat against neighboring Uruguay that has haunted them ever since.
The Uruguayan Judiciary branch warned President Jose Mujica that he is in contempt of justice for ignoring a budget bill that contemplates salary increases for judges and other members of independent government bodies.
Uruguayan President Jose Mujica admitted that annual inflation would likely remain between 7 and 9% for the rest of his administration, above the government's target maximum, but he will appeal to a cut in state-run utilities rates if necessary to keep the index under control.
Uruguay will renew the contract for the purchase of Venezuela oil and accept the stake increase of that country in a local bio-fuels corporation during the scheduled visit of President Nicolas Maduro to Montevideo next month; it was announced by the Uruguayan Foreign affairs ministry.
Despite a decade of sustained growth Uruguay's fiscal deficit reached 2.3% of GDP last year, which is an improvement over 2012, when it reached 2.8%, but above the government's target of 2.1%. In money terms this means the budget red was equivalent to 1.154bn dollars, including 350 million dollar losses from government owned companies.