According to the special report 'Latin American Economic Outlook 2026' by Moody's Analytics, the region is expected to reach a growth of 2.0%, a figure slightly lower than the 2.3% projected for the end of 2025. Experts describe this slowdown as a 'healthy moderation' that will help cool down the economic engine and reduce inflationary pressures, as learned from the Argentine News Agency. The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean will experience a slight moderation in their expansion during 2026, aiming to adjust their indicators towards a more stable and continuous growth cycle. Alfredo Coutiño, the regional director of the consultancy, highlighted that this process will be supported by less restrictive monetary policies and relief from tariff tensions with the United States. Projections by country and risk factors The report details a heterogeneous outlook for the region's main economies, where fiscal space will continue to be a challenge due to public debt and social spending: Growth leaders: Argentina and Peru will head the region with an estimated rate of 3.2%. Followers: Colombia is positioned at 2.8%, followed by Chile and Uruguay with 2.3%. Moderate growth: Brazil projects 1.8%, while Mexico is at the bottom of the list with an advance of 1.2%. Coutiño warned that despite the optimism over the interest rate cuts in countries like Chile, Mexico, and Peru, latent risks remain. However, the expert valued the resilience shown by the region during 2025 against the tariff and migration policies of the U.S. administration. Among them, the possibility of new external shocks that could pressure internal prices or a worsening of geopolitical conflicts that disrupt global supply chains stands out.
