COSTA RICA | Slowdown. The economy contracted 4.5% year-on-year
in January 2009, the sharpest slowdown in 17 years, according to the central
bank. The manufacturing sector was the worst hit (-17.5% year-on-year in
January); followed by the hotel industry (-8.6%); agriculture (-4%) and trade
(-3%). The bank singled out the decline in activity in the free zones -
particularly the electronic and advanced technology sectors - as cause for
concern, adding that in January, 67% of companies registered a fall in
production. Real annual GDP growth was 2.9% in 2008 and the bank is projecting
growth of 2.2% for this year.
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