Latin America Chart Pack Interest rates close to peaking Policymakers in most of Latin America’s inflation-targeting countries have begun to signal an end to the current cycle of monetary tightening. In the very near term, we still expect the combination of... 28th July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update The next big move in Brazilian rates will be down The Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) hiked interest rates by 25bps to 12.50% last night. The tone of the accompanying statement suggests that rates may now have peaked, although we wouldn’t rule out... 22nd July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Rates should peak this year The recent spike in food inflation has a little further to run and, in most economies, core inflation pressures are building. But even so we still expect headline inflation to start to fall in pretty... 19th July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: credit where credit’s due? The debate about whether or not Brazil is in the midst of a consumer credit bubble has reached fever pitch over the past few days. Our view is that the current pace of credit growth is unsustainable... 13th July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Fresh controls unlikely to signal end of Brazil’s ‘currency war’ News that Brazil is planning a range of new measures to stem the rise in the real hit the currency yesterday but any such action is unlikely to have a lasting impact. 7th July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazilian industry still struggling to keep up The sharp rise in Brazilian industrial production in May largely reflects a rebound from the drop in output seen in April. The sector has broadly stagnated over the past couple of months and the fall... 2nd July 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Markets continue to struggle Financial markets across Latin America have had a fairly torrid time over the past month or so. Fears of a renewed global slowdown and a subsequent drop in commodity prices, along with worries about... 30th June 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Worrying signs from Brazil's current account The fact Brazil is spending its windfall from higher commodity prices – plus more – is good news for the global economy, but carries significant risks for the country itself. In particular, it means... 23rd June 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Food price shock still has a little further to run Central bankers – and some in the markets – appear increasingly hopeful that the recent spike in food price inflation, which has driven headline inflation above its target in pretty much every country... 17th June 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: Interest rates hiked, BCB signals more to come The Brazilian Central Bank (BCB) hiked interest rates by 25bps to 12.25% last night. With inflation, which exceeded the Bank’s target range last month, set to rise further, additional increases are... 9th June 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil: Above-target inflation strengthens the case for a rate hike Brazilian inflation rose above the upper band of the Central Bank’s (BCB’s) 4.5±2% target range in May. Inflation is likely to remain above target until the second half of next year. Accordingly... 7th June 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazil GDP growth to remain unbalanced Although Brazilian GDP growth was around its potential rate of 4-5% y/y in Q1, underlying concerns about imbalances remain. With domestic demand driving growth and inflation likely to have exceeded... 3rd June 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazilian industry still feeling the strain of a strong real While Brazil’s industrial sector appears to have made a decent contribution to growth in Q1, it seems that it will be a drag in Q2 and perhaps beyond. Manufacturers are being squeezed by the ongoing... 1st June 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Domestic demand drives decent Q1 growth First quarter GDP data released over the past month confirm what we already knew – most countries in Latin America experienced a strong start to 2011. The problem, however, is that growth is still... 31st May 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economic Outlook Domestic demand set to drive growth The growth outlook for Latin America remains good. GDP growth is likely to slow a little over the coming quarters as external demand weakens and commodity prices come off of the boil, but the domestic... 26th May 2011 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Brazilian industry still facing an uphill struggle Brazilian industrial production expanded at its fastest pace in a year in Q1 but the outlook for Q2 and beyond is less promising. The bigger picture remains that Brazilian growth is still being driven... 4th May 2011 · 1 min read
