Guatemala: Economic activity growth accelerates in September
Latest reading: Economic activity lost momentum in September, rising 3.6% year on year (August: +4.0% yoy). Looking at the details of the release, sturdy output in manufacturing, and in the financial, and wholesale and retail trade sectors underpinned the upturn. Robust momentum in the real estate plus communication and information sectors added further impetus.
Meanwhile, annual average growth in economic activity was steady at August’s 3.1% in September.
On the external front, merchandise exports swung into a 1.2% contraction year on year in September (August: +16.8% yoy). Moreover, remittances inflows growth slowed to 1.4% in the same month (August: 13.9% yoy), boding ill for household budgets.