Bladex Weekly LatAm Insight

November 2, 2026

Economic Studies Department

Sergio Olarte | Gustavo Acero

 

Our Weekly LatAm Insights, prepared by Bladex’s Economic Studies team, provide a weekly overview of the main macroeconomic developments in Latin America and the international environment, highlighting trends that may impact the region’s economic performance.

 

Key Takeaways of the Week

  • Fiscal Accounts Remain at the Center of the Debate. Colombia completed a record international bond issuance and introduced an Economic Rescue Bill aimed at strengthening its public finances. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic significantly reduced its quasi-fiscal deficit. Panama moved forward with the approval of its 2027 budget, while Guatemala continued to debate adjustments to public spending and borrowing.
  • A Week of Contrasts: Growth, Interest Rates, and Volatility. Mexico’s GDP grew by 3.2% in the third quarter, marking its strongest expansion since 2023. Argentina moved closer to securing a new US$900 million disbursement from the IMF. Chile and Colombia, meanwhile, kept their policy rates unchanged. In Brazil, Lula’s reelection triggered a negative market reaction amid heightened fiscal uncertainty.
  • Inflation Keeps Pressure on Interest Rates. The U.S. economy expanded by 3.4% in the third quarter, while PCE inflation accelerated to 3.6% in September, reinforcing expectations of Federal Reserve rate hike in December. At the same time, Canada raised its policy rate to 2.5%, while the ECB and the Bank of Japan held their respective rates steady at 2.5% and 1.25%.


Read the full report here: Bladex Weekly LatAm Insight