The Central Bank of Nicaragua published the March 2026 Monthly Index of Economic Activity, showing that economic activity remained firm, with the index rising 5.3 percent from March 2025. That was below the 6.3 percent annual growth recorded in the previous month. Cumulative growth for January to March stood at 6.0 percent, while the average annual change was 5.7 percent. In seasonally adjusted terms, the index was broadly unchanged from the previous month and was 4.7 percent higher than a year earlier. The trend-cycle series rose 0.1 percent from February 2026 and 5.3 percent from March 2025. The strongest annual gains came from mining and quarrying at 25.2 percent, construction at 21.8 percent, trade at 14.1 percent, hotels and restaurants at 11.8 percent, financial intermediation and related services at 4.7 percent, and other services at 7.3 percent. Declines were recorded in fishing and aquaculture at 14.2 percent, energy and water at 6.9 percent, manufacturing at 3.3 percent, and agriculture at 3.2 percent. The report linked primary-sector growth to stronger metallic mining and livestock activity, while weaker fishing, crop production and logging weighed on output. Manufacturing was held back by lower production of petroleum derivatives, textiles and automotive harnesses, partly offset by gains in meat products, beverages and tobacco.
Central Bank of Nicaragua2026-05-22
Central Bank of Nicaragua reports March economic activity growth of 5.3 percent with mining and construction leading gains
The Central Bank of Nicaragua reported that its Monthly Index of Economic Activity rose 5.3 percent year-on-year in March 2026, with cumulative growth of 6.0 percent for January to March and an average annual change of 5.7 percent. Seasonally adjusted activity was broadly flat on the month and 4.7 percent higher than a year earlier, with gains in mining and quarrying, construction, trade, and services offset by declines in fishing and aquaculture, energy and water, manufacturing, and agriculture.