LatinNews Daily - 15 September 2026

*Costa Rica’s central bank (BCCR) has published its latest monthly economic activity index (Imae), which showed a 2.5% year-on-year increase in July, down from 3.0% in June, and 3.5% in May. According to the BCCR the slower growth was explained by a slowdown in special tax regimes (RE) which, while up 1.4% year-on-year, was far less than the 17.0% annual growth rate registered in July 2025. In July 2026, growth was driven by construction, which was up 8.3% year-on-year, professional and administrative services (+3.8%), education and health (+3.5%), and real estate (+3.7%). Manufacturing was the only category to post a year-on-year decline, falling 0.6% in July.