chapters. The introduction examines the world economy and its prospects as well as growth and unemployment trends of Caribbean economies. The first chapter provides a comparative analysis across Caribbean economies of the main macroeconomic variables, namely GDP growth, monetary indicators, as well as fiscal and external accounts. The second chapter concludes, while the annex includes individual country briefs that give an overview of the economic situation for the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and a subregional assessment of the countries of the Ea…
Este trabajo argumenta que la problemática de la deuda del Caribe tiene su origen en la existencia de déficits gemelos que tienden a caracterizar a las economías pequeñas más que a factores exógenos como los desastres naturales. La evidencia empírica muestra que, en general, el aumento de la deuda tiende a coincidir con un deterioro en el balance fiscal y el balance externo. La existencia de déficits gemelos refleja características estructurales de estas economías. Los procesos de restructuración de deuda se han traducido en disminuciones transitorias, pero no duraderas en los niveles de endeu…
This special issue of United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments provides an overview of trade relations between the United States and the Caribbean for the period 2021–2024. It presents an analysis of trends in goods and services trade; key sectors and partner economies; and an assessment of the degree of trade concentration. The findings show that although overall trade volumes recovered and expanded after the pandemic, the Caribbean’s share of total United States trade remained below 1%, highlighting the region’s limited but gradually increasing engagement with that co…
In 2024, Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 19.2% of total United States trade, similar to the level recorded in 2023. The region’s share of total United States trade in goods, 23.2%, surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The region, driven by Mexico, remained a net exporter of goods to the United States: imports by that country from Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 7.4% to US$ 661 billion, while exports increased by 2.9% to US$ 517 billion, widening the United States goods trade deficit with the region to US$ 144 billion. Latin America and the Caribbean also accounted for 11.5% of …
This special issue of United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments provides an overview of trade relations between the United States and the Caribbean for the period 2021–2024. …
In 2024, Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 19.2% of total United States trade, similar to the level recorded in 2023. The region’s share of total United States trade in goods, 23.2%, surpassed pre-pandemic levels.…
En este documento se analiza la evolución de las principales variables macroeconómicas de los países de Centroamérica y la República Dominicana en 2024 y sus perspectivas para 2025. Los países de esta subregión muestran resiliencia en materia macroeconómica, en un entorno económico mundial adverso. En 2024, las economías de Centroamérica y la República Dominicana registraron un crecimiento promedio ponderado del 3,9%. El déficit fiscal promedio se ubicó en un 2,7% del producto interno bruto (PIB). La política monetaria se caracterizó, en la mayoría de los países de Centroamérica y la República…
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) indicated today that the region continues along a path of low growth, forecasting that the main sources that have sustained economic activity in recent years – namely, private consumption and external demand – will lose vitality in 2026. According to its new estimates, ECLAC projects regional GDP growth of 2.4% in 2025 and 2.3% in 2026. If these forecasts are borne out, the region will accumulate four consecutive years of low growth with average annual growth of just 2.3%.
At the presentation of its annual report Prelimin…
La Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) señaló hoy que la región continúa transitando una senda de bajo crecimiento y para 2026 prevé que las principales fuentes que han sostenido la actividad económica en los últimos años —el consumo privado y la demanda externa— pierdan dinamismo. Según sus nuevas estimaciones, la CEPAL proyecta que el crecimiento del PIB regional alcanzaría un 2,4% en 2025 y un 2,3% en 2026. De confirmarse estas previsiones, la región acumularía cuatro años de bajo crecimiento, con un crecimiento promedio anual de apenas 2,3%.
En la presentación de su …
A Comissão Econômica para a América Latina e o Caribe (CEPAL) indicou hoje que a região continua em um caminho de baixo crescimento e, para 2026, prevê que as principais fontes que sustentaram a atividade econômica nos últimos anos — o consumo privado e a demanda externa — perderão dinamismo. De acordo com suas novas estimativas, a CEPAL projeta que o crescimento do PIB regional atingirá 2,4% em 2025 e 2,3% em 2026. Se essas previsões se confirmarem, a região acumulará quatro anos de baixo crescimento, com um crescimento médio anual de apenas 2,3%.
Na apresentação do seu relatório anual Balanç…
Latin America and the Caribbean remains caught in a trap of low capacity for growth. ECLAC forecasts regional growth of 2.3% in 2026, slightly below the 2.4% recorded in 2025, marking four consecutive years of growth rates around 2.3%. This 2025 edition of the Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean shows that this performance comes amid global uncertainty and domestic constraints which limit investment growth, productivity and the capacity to generate formal employment.
The economic outlook of the region is mixed. Although inflation continues to decline, facil…
América Latina y el Caribe sigue enfrentando una trampa de baja capacidad para crecer. Las proyecciones de la CEPAL indican que la región crecerá alrededor del 2,3% en 2026, cifra levemente menor al 2,4% de 2025, definiéndose así una secuencia de cuatro años con tasas de crecimiento de alrededor del 2,3%. La presente edición 2025 del Balance Preliminar de las Economías de América Latina y el Caribe muestra que este desempeño se da en un entorno mundial incierto y con limitaciones internas que restringen un mayor crecimiento de la inversión, la productividad y la capacidad de generar empleo for…
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will present on Tuesday, December 16 its annual flagship report Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2025, in which it examines the behavior of the region’s economies over the current year and updates estimates for growth and other economic indicators in 2025 and 2026.
Specifically, the document will present new Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth estimates for the region and all of its countries in 2025 and 2026. In this edition, the report analyzes the economic and social dynamics of …
La Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) presentará el próximo martes 16 de diciembre su informe anual (flagship) Balance Preliminar de las Economías de América Latina y el Caribe 2025, en el cual examina el comportamiento de las economías de la región durante el presente año, y actualiza las estimaciones de crecimiento y otros indicadores económicos para 2025 y 2026.
En particular, el documento actualizará las estimaciones de crecimiento del producto interno bruto (PIB) para la región y todos sus países en 2025 y 2026. En esta edición el informe analiza la dinámica e…
A Comissão Econômica para a América Latina e o Caribe (CEPAL) apresentará, na terça-feira, 16 de dezembro, no Santiago do Chile, seu relatório anual (flagship) Balanço Preliminar das Economias da América Latina e do Caribe 2025, no qual examina o comportamento das economias da região durante o ano corrente e atualiza as estimativas de crescimento e outros indicadores econômicos para 2025 e 2026.
Em particular, o documento apresentará novas estimativas do crescimento do produto interno bruto (PIB) para a região e para todos os seus países em 2025 e 2026. Nesta edição, o relatório analisa a dinâ…
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs insists that the Caribbean “must be an active architect, not merely a beneficiary of new development models.” Speaking at the meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), he made the point that development strategies in the Caribbean must be mission-oriented and must crosscut climate, finance, technology and social inclusion.
ES Salazar-Xirinachs was tackling the theme: Unlocking Caribbean Potential – Enhan…