The Board of Directors of Banco de la República kept the benchmark rate steady at 11.25 % on 30 April 2026, arguing that an unchanged stance best balances support for the economy’s firming recovery with the goal of returning inflation to target despite a recent pickup in price pressures. The pause follows cumulative 200 bp of tightening in January and March 2026. Headline inflation rose to 5.6 % in March—46 bp above December—while core inflation climbed to 5.8 %; one-year-plus inflation expectations have generally eased, though survey medians for end-2026 increased. Forward indicators of energy demand, manufacturing, retail trade, and external goods flows point to first-quarter growth surpassing the previous quarter, and the labour market remains vibrant with historically low unemployment and rising salaried jobs. The Board flagged the risk that a prolonged Middle East conflict could fuel higher global energy and commodity prices and tighten external financing conditions. It reiterated that future policy moves will be guided by the evolution of inflation, expectations, activity, and external risks.