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Regional Economic Outlook

October 2021 Regional Economic Outlook for Western Hemisphere - Cover

Western Hemisphere

Regional Economic Outlook
October 2022

Recent developments in the Western Hemisphere—that is, the United States/Canada and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)—have been dominated by the impact of two distinct global shocks: the COVID-19 pandemic and then the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A third shock—the tightening of financial conditions—is now shaping the outlook. After contracting sharply in 2020, most of the Western Hemisphere’ economies recovered strongly in 2021 and early 2022, helped by the global recovery, the normalization of service sectors, and booming commodity prices. However, inflation pressures built up with pandemic-related disruptions, expansionary policies, rebounding demand, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on energy and food prices. The swift response of LAC’s monetary authorities to rising inflation—well ahead of other economies—helped contain price pressures and keep long-term inflation expectations anchored, but inflation remains high. Amid global monetary and financial tightening, and the ensuing slowdown in global growth and softening of commodity prices, activity is expected to decelerate throughout the Western Hemisphere in late 2022 and 2023, while inflation pressures are expected to recede gradually. Downside risks dominate the outlook and stem from tighter financial conditions, a more pronounced global slowdown, and entrenched inflation. For LAC, a sharp fall in commodity prices and social unrest are important risks. With inflation yet to abate and most economies still operating at or near potential, monetary policy should avoid easing prematurely and must stay the course. Clear communication of policy intentions will be key to reducing uncertainty and keeping inflation expectations anchored. Fiscal support deployed to mitigate the impact of inflation on the most vulnerable should be accompanied by compensating measures, where fiscal space does not exist, but also support monetary authorities’ efforts to tame inflation. Given rising financing costs, strengthening fiscal frameworks and advancing with inclusive fiscal consolidation—that protects key social objectives—will be essential to credibly putting public debt on a firm downward path while ensuring social stability. Boosting LAC’s medium-term growth requires raising productivity and good-quality public and private investment. Supply-side policies should focus on strengthening human capital, simplifying and modernizing labor regulations, and lifting barriers to firm entry and exit.

Read more: Regional Economic Outlook for the Western Hemisphere, October 2022

This web page presents information about the work of the IMF in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic, including the activities of the IMF Regional Representative Office. Additional information can be found on the IMF country pages of the enlarged Central American region (Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama), including official IMF reports and Executive Board documents in English and Spanish that deal with Central America as a region and with each of its countries.

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At a Glance

  • CA-7: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic
  • Costa Rica Joined the Fund on January 08, 1946
  • El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama Joined the Fund on March 14, 1946
  • Dominican Republic and Guatemala Joined the Fund on December 28, 1945
  • Honduras Joined the Fund on December 27, 1945
  • Total Quotas: Net cummulative allocation SDR 1,230.60 Million; Holdings: SDR 1,027.62 Million
  • Loans outstanding: ECF arrangements (Honduras and Nicaragua) SDR 132.54 Million;
  • Stand-by Arrangements (Dominican Republic) SDR 703.76 Million

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IMF's Work on Central America 

  • Transcript of Western Hemisphere Economic Outlook October 2024 Press Briefing

    October 25, 2024

    Good morning. Welcome everyone. This is the press briefing for the Regional Economic Outlook for the Western Hemisphere. My name is Julie Ziegler, and I am with the Communications Department at the Fund. I'm going to introduce our panel today. To my immediate left is Rodrigo Valdes, who. the Director of the Western Hemisphere Department. And he is joined by his Deputies, Ana Corbacho and Luis Cubeddu.

  • How To Do Better

    October 25, 2024

    Annual Meetings Chairman, Ahmed Munawar, Chairperson and Governor, Maldives Monetary Authority, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva speak at the October 25th plenary session of the Annual Meetings in Washington D.C.

  • IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Honduras and Reaches Staff-Level Agreement

    October 18, 2024

    International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff and the Honduran authorities have reached staff level agreement on a set of comprehensive policies and reforms needed to complete the first and second reviews of Honduras’ program supported by the IMF.

  • Transcript of IMF Press Briefing

    October 3, 2024

    MS. KOZACK: Good morning, everyone. It is great to see you all here in person and online. Welcome to this IMF Press Briefing. I am Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Department. As usual, this briefing is embargoed until 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States. I will start with some announcements and then take your questions in person on Webex and via the Press Center.

  • Dominican Republic: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release and Staff Report

    September 13, 2024

    Series:Country Report No. 2024/294

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