Last year Costa Rica suffered less from the effects of inflation, than any other country in Central America, according to a ranking (Spanish only) published this week.
Tight control over the cost of regulated services was one reason for the favorable results. Not all the news was good, however, since major causes for low inflation in 2011 included slow growth and a low level of domestic demand, according the Central Bank of Costa Rica in its year-end report. Outlook for this year is high on expectations of global recovery.
Nicaraguans for the second consecutive year had the highest inflation in the region, with an annual variation of 7.9%. This country however has high benefits when it comes to cost of living.
Figures represent cumulative inflation to December 2011, expressed in percentage points and based on statistics from the central banks or monetary authorities of the respective countries.
- Costa Rica (4.7)
- El Salvador (5.1)
- Honduras (5.6)
- Panama (5.9)
- Guatemala (6.2)
- Nicaragua (7.9)