Uruguay’s economy expected to grow by 3.5% in 2021 – Central Bank

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In its second-quarter monetary policy report, the Uruguayan Central bank forecast a 3.5% expansion for the country’s economy, the same as the Finance ministry’s estimate but anticipated higher inflation because of an increase in public rates and commodities.

However, the Central Bank Expectations Survey, which consults local economists and experts, kept its projected average growth rate for the Uruguayan economy in 2021 almost one full point below government forecasts, at 2.6%.

Based on the indicators, economic activity picked up again during the second quarter, says the bank’s report. Preliminary data from May shows imports of capital goods and intermediate goods continued to show a significant dynamism.

Likewise, there is a good performance from consumption indicators, while at the same time, there is an increase in the confidence index of consumers. On the export side, “volume and prices remain elevated, but marginal growth is slowing,” adds the report.

Analyzing the different business sectors, performance has been dissimilar. During recent months, the sectors that have boosted activity are related to goods, agriculture, industry, construction; however, those related to the production of services continue to lag. This was particularly felt during the first quarter of the year because of an abysmal tourism season.

Thus the Uruguayan economy can be expected to end 2021 with an average growth of 3.5%, with something less in 2022, but similar to the values anticipated in the previous report.

The basic scenario, following the strong 2020 contraction, the expected evolution of the activity level anticipates a recovery to pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of this year.

As to the components of this growth, private investment is a great booster, including the new pulp mill under construction, government spending, and exports. In 2022 exports will continue to have an impulse together with private consumption.

However, when it comes to inflation, the Central Bank report marks a one full percentage point increase (from a 7% axis) for 2021 because of the increase in fuel costs and international prices of commodities.

Nevertheless, despite the current spike, most experts believe that the inflation range will eventually fit into the bank’s monetary policy horizon, which is between 3% and 6%. In effect, the Central Bank anticipates that in 2022, during the second quarter, inflation will return to target.