The IMF board on Wednesday approved $504 million in emergency financing for Costa Rica to help the Central American nation deal with the economic damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic.
While the new coronavirus hasn’t yet caused a health crisis in Costa Rica, the pandemic has had widespread repercussions for the country’s economy.Â
President Carlos Alvarado has pointed to unemployment as the main concern of his government, and the figures remain high amid a slowdown in the economy.
A majority of consumers surveyed expect increases in interest rates on bank loans, in the dollar exchange rate and in fuel prices during the coming year.