Key Points
— Paraguay’s central bank held its benchmark rate at 5.5%, pausing after two consecutive quarter-point cuts since January
— Inflation fell to 2.3% in February, a five-year low and well below the 3.5% target, but energy import costs pose an upward risk
— The economy grew 6% in 2025 but is slowing, with the central bank projecting 4.2% for 2026 as base effects fade
Paraguay’s central bank held its benchmark Paraguay interest rate at 5.5% on Friday, signaling a pause in its easing cycle after inflation dropped to a five-year low. The Rio Times, the Latin American financial news outlet, reports that the decision was widely expected by analysts who had forecast a hold following two consecutive quarter-point cuts in January and February that brought the rate down from 6%.
The monetary policy committee voted unanimously to maintain the rate, reiterating that its stance remains neutral. Annual inflation stood at 2.3% in February, with core inflation even lower at 2.1% — both well below the central bank’s 3.5% target, which allows a tolerance band of plus or minus two percentage points.
Why Paraguay Interest Rate Cuts Have Paused
The central bank said it expects inflation to remain low in the coming months before converging with the 3.5% target by late 2026. A strong guaraní and falling fuel prices had helped push consumer prices down, but policymakers flagged energy costs as the primary upside risk. Paraguay is landlocked and imports all of its fuel and petroleum products, leaving it exposed to global oil price fluctuations.
The February cut that brought the rate to 5.5% had surprised analysts, who expected a hold at that meeting. By pausing now, the central bank is consolidating the 50 basis points of easing it has delivered since the start of the year while preserving room to act if conditions change. The guaraní’s appreciation against the dollar has helped suppress import costs, reinforcing the case for patience rather than further cuts.
Growth Slows but Foundations Hold
The economy expanded in January but at a slower pace than the year before, with the monthly activity indicator registering just 0.9% growth driven by agriculture, electricity, and services. The central bank attributed the deceleration to base effects — Paraguay’s economy grew an estimated 6% in 2025, its strongest showing in years, making year-on-year comparisons harder. The projection for 2026 stands at 4.2%.
That growth has attracted international attention. Moody’s upgraded Paraguay to investment grade in mid-2024, and the country ranked fourth-freest economy in South America in the Heritage Foundation’s 2026 index.
Manufacturing exports exceeded $1 billion in 2024, and nearly $10 billion in foreign investment arrived that year. The combination of fiscal discipline, a flat 10 percent tax structure, and anchored inflation expectations has given the central bank unusual credibility for a small, landlocked economy that imports every liter of fuel it consumes.
What Comes Next for Paraguay’s Monetary Path
The central bank said it will continue monitoring domestic and external developments to anticipate implications for the inflation trajectory and take timely measures. In practice, this means watching oil prices, the guaraní exchange rate, and the pace of U.S. Federal Reserve rate decisions, which influence capital flows across emerging markets.
Paraguay’s monetary stance mirrors a broader pattern across Latin America’s smaller, investment-grade economies. Like Uruguay, which is managing its own growth slowdown, Paraguay faces the challenge of sustaining expansion built on commodities and hydropower while keeping inflation anchored during a turbulent global environment. The April meeting will test whether the pause becomes permanent or whether softening growth tips the balance toward further cuts. For now, the central bank has chosen to let the data speak before committing to the next move.