Latin American Economy & Business - December 2016 (ISSN 1741-7430)

In November, the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT) released GDP data showing an unexpectedly sharp contraction in the first half of 2016. Real GDP fell by 6.7% year-on-year (with a dramatic 8% contraction in the second quarter). There is no doubt that the country is struggling with an energy-led recession, but these numbers may not be telling the full story.