The Central Bank of Costa Rica published the January 2025 Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE), reporting 4.4% year-on-year growth in national production on the trend-cycle series. This represented an acceleration of 0.4 percentage points versus January 2024 and a deceleration of 0.2 percentage points versus the previous month. By segment, the definitive regime grew 3.0% year on year and accounted for 56.0% of the contribution to the IMAE growth rate, with eight of its fifteen activities growing faster than in the same month a year earlier, including construction, professional services, and information and communication. Agricultural activity declined versus the prior year, partly reflecting adverse climate conditions in late 2024 that reduced yields per hectare, while hotels and restaurants fell 0.6% alongside a 1.5% drop in tourist arrivals by air. Output in special regimes rose 12.9%, supported by higher exports of medical devices and services to head offices, software development, and information technology services.
Central Bank of Costa Rica 2025-03-10
Central Bank of Costa Rica reports January 2025 IMAE growth of 4.4% with special-regime output up 12.9%
The Central Bank of Costa Rica reported a 4.4% year-on-year growth in national production for January 2025, per the Monthly Index of Economic Activity. The definitive regime contributed 56.0% to this growth, with notable increases in construction, professional services, and information and communication, while agricultural activity declined due to adverse climate conditions. Special regimes saw a 12.9% rise, driven by exports of medical devices and IT services.