Costa Rica’s trade deficit in the first four months of this year has fallen 66 percent from the rate registered during the same period last year, as imports fell more quickly than exports, according to data released last week by the Central Bank.
From January through April of this year the trade deficit reached $617.6 million, far below the more than $1.8 billion registered after four months into 2008.
Imports are at almost $3.4 billion, a more than 30 percent drop from the $5.1 billion in imports registered through April 2008.
Exports also continued to tumble – albeit more slowly – grossing less than $2.8 billion, about 15 percent below the almost $3.3 billion in goods exported during the same period last year.
The news came after Central Bank President Francisco De Paula Gutiérrez once again readjusted the bank’s economic outlook for 2009.
The economy will contract 1.8 percent, he said. That represents a substantial change from the more optimistic projection in January of 2.2 percent growth at year’s end. The bank chief also said inflation will reach 8 percent.
– EFE
