Latin American and Caribbean bond issuance in international markets amounted to US$ 121.8 billion in 2024, 36% higher than in 2023 and the strongest figure in three years. The average coupon rate, at 7.1%, was slightly above the 2023 level of 6.9%, indicating that financing costs remain elevated. Although the market was still open to high-yield issuers, investment grade bonds accounted for 57% of the region’s issuance.
In 2024, issuance of green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked (GSSS) bonds on international markets climbed by 6% relative to 2023, to a total of US$ 33.1 billi…
Latin America and the Caribbean is caught in a trap of low capacity for growth, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The region’s economies are projected to expand by 2.2% and 2.4% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Although these figures are above the 2015–2024 average of 1.0%, they are insufficient to close the gap with the economies of developed countries.
The 2024 and 2025 international context is one of highly uncertain financial and trade conditions and slowing growth for the region’s main trading partners. Domestic macroeconomic policy space rem…
América Latina y el Caribe enfrenta lo que la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) ha denominado una trampa de baja capacidad para crecer. Para 2024 y 2025, las tasas de crecimiento serán de un 2,2% y un 2,4%, respectivamente. Si bien estas son mayores al promedio de la década 2015-2024 (1,0%), no permitirán cerrar las brechas que exhiben las economías de la región con respecto a las economías desarrolladas.
En 2024 y 2025, los países de la región enfrentan un contexto internacional caracterizado por una elevada incertidumbre financiera y comercial, y una desaceleración d…
This survey examines the economic performance of economies of the Caribbean in 2022 and the first few months of 2023 and comprises five chapters. The first chapter gives an overview of global, regional and subregional economic performance in the Caribbean. The second provides an analysis of the subregion’s fiscal performance and debt burden. The third looks at monetary policy and their impacts. The fourth is focused on the external sector, while the fifth concludes.…
A região da América Latina e Caribe está presa no que a Comissão Econômica para a América Latina e o Caribe (CEPAL) chamou de uma armadilha de baixa capacidade para crescer. Em 2024 e 2025, as taxas de crescimento seriam de 2,2% e 2,4%, respectivamente. Embora sejam mais altas do que a média da década 2015-2024 (1,0%), não permitirão fechar as lacunas das economias da região em relação às economias desenvolvidas.
Em 2024 e 2025, os países da região enfrentam um contexto internacional caracterizado por elevada incerteza financeira e comercial e desaceleração do crescimento dos principais parce…
Latin America and the Caribbean is mired in a decades-long growth trap, and further hampered by global and regional conditions that limit the space for macroeconomic policies to spur economic growth in the region. The results of the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024 reveal weaker job creation, especially in the formal sector, with young people, women, older persons, migrants and rural dwellers among the most likely to be informal workers. In addition, an intensification of climate change effects will drastically reduce the number of jobs created in the medium term if mit…
América Latina y el Caribe se encuentra en una trampa de crecimiento que se ha prolongado por varias décadas y el contexto mundial y regional limitan el espacio de las políticas macroeconómicas en su favor. Los resultados del Estudio Económico de América Latina y el Caribe, 2024 muestran una reducción en la tasa de creación de puestos de trabajo, en especial empleos formales, y que grupos como los jóvenes, las mujeres, los adultos mayores, las personas migrantes y las personas que viven en zonas rurales son más propensos a tener trabajos informales. Además, un intensificación de los efectos de…
Latin America and the Caribbean is mired in a decades-long growth trap, and further hampered by global and regional conditions that limit the space for macroeconomic policies to spur economic growth in the region. The results of the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024 reveal weaker job creation, especially in the formal sector, with young people, women, older persons, migrants and rural dwellers among the most likely to be informal workers. In addition, an intensification of climate change effects will drastically reduce the number of jobs created in the medium term if mit…
The United States economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.1% in the third quarter of 2024, above the economy’s long-term growth potential and the 3.0% growth recorded in the second quarter, driven primarily by consumer spending. The resilience of consumer spending has been supported by receding inflation and a robust labour market. Employment has increased for 47 consecutive months, but the labour market is softening. Progress in bringing down inflation has stalled over the past three months, with inflation rising from 2.4% in September 2024 to 2.7% in November. The Federal Reserve cut int…
Latin American and Caribbean issuers placed US$ 112 billion of bonds in international markets in the first 10 months of 2024. This total was 40% higher than in the same period in 2023. The market remained open to high-yield issuers from the region, but most of the region’s issuances (58%) came from the investment grade sector. After two consecutive years in which sovereign issuances surpassed the 50% mark, corporate bond issuances in the reporting period represented 57% of the total.
The region issued US$ 29 billion in green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds in internatio…
The Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2023 analyses the complex macroeconomic scenario for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and projects that low economic growth will continue in 2023 and 2024. Inflation is expected to ease, although it will remain relatively high, as will public debt levels. This is coupled with a slowdown in employment, investment and consumption, and rising social demands. The report shows that both external and domestic factors have affected the region’s economic performance.
This edition of the Economic Survey also analyses the macroecon…
En el Estudio Económico de América Latina y el Caribe 2023 se analiza el complejo escenario macroeconómico que enfrentan los países de América Latina y el Caribe, y se señala que en 2023 y 2024 continuará el bajo crecimiento económico. Asimismo, se prevé una caída de la inflación, aunque permanecería en niveles relativamente altos al igual que los niveles de deuda pública. A ello se suma un menor dinamismo del empleo, la inversión y el consumo, y crecientes demandas sociales. El informe destaca que existen tanto factores externos como internos que han incidido en el desempeño económico de la r…
The United States economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.0% in the second quarter of 2024 —more than double the 1.4% GDP growth recorded in the first quarter and well above the economy’s long-term growth potential—, driven primarily by consumer spending. The resilience of consumer spending has been supported by receding inflation and a robust labour market. Inflation slowed to 2.5% in August 2024, the lowest level in more than three years. Employment has increased for 44 consecutive months, but the labour market is softening. The Federal Reserve announced an interest rate cut of 0.50% in …
A América Latina e o Caribe estão presos numa armadilha de crescimento que se prolonga por várias décadas e o contexto mundial e regional limita o espaço das políticas macroeconômicas a seu favor. Os resultados do Estudo Econômico da América Latina e do Caribe, 2024 mostram uma redução na taxa de criação de postos de trabalho, especialmente empregos formais, sendo que grupos como os jovens, as mulheres, os idosos, os migrantes e as pessoas que vivem em zonas rurais são mais propensos a ter trabalhos informais. Além disso, se não forem adotadas políticas de mitigação e adaptação, uma intensific…
Latin America and the Caribbean is mired in a decades-long growth trap, and further hampered by global and regional conditions that limit the space for macroeconomic policies to spur economic growth in the region. The results of the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2024 reveal weaker job creation, especially in the formal sector, with young people, women, older persons, migrants and rural dwellers among the most likely to be informal workers. In addition, an intensification of climate change effects will drastically reduce the number of jobs created in the medium term if mit…
América Latina y el Caribe se encuentra en una trampa de crecimiento que se ha prolongado por varias décadas y el contexto mundial y regional limitan el espacio de las políticas macroeconómicas en su favor. Los resultados del Estudio Económico de América Latina y el Caribe, 2024 muestran una reducción en la tasa de creación de puestos de trabajo, en especial empleos formales, y que grupos como los jóvenes, las mujeres, los adultos mayores, las personas migrantes y las personas que viven en zonas rurales son más propensos a tener trabajos informales. Además, un intensificación de los efectos de…
Latin American and Caribbean issuers placed US$ 53 billion of bonds in international markets in the first four months of 2024. This total was 61.5% higher than in the same period in 2023. The market remained open to high-yield issuers from the region, but most of the region’s issuances (69%) came from the investment grade sector. After two consecutive years in which sovereign issuances surpassed the 50% mark, corporate bond issuances in the reporting period represented 58% of the total.
The region issued US$ 13 billion in green, social, sustainability and sustainability linked bonds in interna…
In 2023, the fiscal environment in Latin America and the Caribbean reflected deteriorating global and regional microfinancial conditions. Fiscal deficits widened in Latin America as tax collection weakened owing to lower aggregate demand and falling international commodity prices. In the Caribbean, primary surpluses increased on the back of primary spending cutbacks. Public debt in the region remained high and the rise in interest payments is exerting more pressure on fiscal accounts.
Given the context of low economic growth and the increasing recognition of the key role that the public sector…
En 2023 el entorno fiscal en América Latina y el Caribe se vio influido por el deterioro de las condiciones macrofinancieras mundiales y regionales. En América Latina se profundizaron los déficits fiscales ya que la recaudación tributaria perdió dinamismo como resultado de una menor demanda agregada y la caída de los precios internacionales de las materias primas. En el Caribe se observó un incremento en los superávits primarios por un ajuste del gasto primario. La deuda pública en la región se mantuvo elevada y el alza en los pagos de intereses ejerce mayor presión sobre las cuentas fiscales.…
United States gross domestic product rose by 2.5% in 2023. The above-potential growth was driven by resilient consumers, supported by a strong labour market and receding inflation. In 2023, 3 million new jobs were added on an annual basis, and the unemployment rate was 3.7% at the end of December. Inflation was reduced by half relative to 2022, declining from an annual rate of 8% in 2022 to 4.1% in 2023.
Cognizant of the strength of the U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve is nevertheless adopting a “wait and see” approach rather than declaring an immediate end to its monetary tightening cycle, w…
United Nations