- Inflation in Brazil exceeded expectations in March, due mainly to food, as weather and supply shocks persist.
- Activity data point to solid momentum, but industrial output is dropping and leading indicators softening.
- Fiscal risk and BRL weakness complicate COPOM’s task, despite signs of inflation pressures easing ahead.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: Rising food prices and FX volatility rekindle inflation risks amid slowing domestic demand.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: Solid February bounce, but underlying weakness remains
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: On hold amid global uncertainty, but door remains open to cut.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In LatAm, Mexico is by far the most exposed to US tariffs and global economic slowdown risk.
- Commodity-price declines and Chinese weakness add fresh headwinds to regional export growth.
- Currency volatility, weaker remittances and soft capex will drag, but rate cuts offer relief.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: Resilience masks broader risk of a slowdown.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: MXN depreciation clouds the outlook.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- Mexico’s core inflation is contained, allowing Banxico to cut rates despite mounting global trade uncertainty.
- Job creation improved slightly in March, but the Q1 performance signals deeper structural weakness.
- Brazil’s retail resilience faces mounting pressure from labour-market cooling and tight credit.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- Mexican Peso — Exposed to further tariff noise
- Argentinian Peso — Stability or mirage
- Colombian Peso — Under stress from oil and trade shocks
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- Colombia’s disinflation resumed in March, and still-tight financial conditions will help it continue in Q2…
- …But the COP’s sell-off amid trade tensions will limit disinflation’s progress and hurt import costs.
- Chile’s inflation rebounded in March but will slow in Q2, although trade volatility raises new risks.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- A muted tariff hit masks deeper vulnerabilities in trade exposure, export composition and market volatility.
- Central banks will shift gear as the trade shock, falling capex and weak demand cloud the outlook.
- Peru’s disinflation is on track, but the trade war is a threat to the relatively benign outlook.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- Mr. Trump’s tariff uncertainty will continue to weigh on LatAm’s prospects, despite it not being hit too hard.
- Mexico is aiming for fiscal discipline, but rising debt and optimistic forecasts threaten its credibility, again.
- Structural reforms, a Pemex overhaul and looking beyond the US are key to stabilising its debt outlook.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- USMCA compliance shields Mexico, for now, as tariff risks shift to non-aligning sectors.
- The US tariff war creates winners in LatAm, as Asia bears the brunt, but collateral damage is a threat.
- Faltering sentiment and tight financial conditions are weighing on Brazil’s industrial sector.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: Reduced confidence and tight financial conditions are drags.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: A poor headline, but the underlying trend remains positive.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- BanRep left rates on hold, due to persistent inflation pressures despite mixed progress…
- …But new Board members boost the doves’ influence, hinting at potential rate cuts ahead, COP permitting.
- Chile’s IMACEC highlights temporary setbacks in the recovery, but fundamentals point to sustained growth.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- Chile’s economic data for February show weakness, but growth momentum remains positive for Q1.
- Geopolitical tensions and the US trade war threaten Chile’s trade-dependent economy and key sectors.
- Argentina’s economy has started Q1 on a solid footing, but key challenges are emerging.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
- In one line: Poor headlines, but we think growth momentum will remain positive in H1.
Andrés Abadía (Chief LatAm Economist)Latin America
