Economic outlook

29/09/2020

Despite some positive signs in September, economic recovery will remain slow

Economic recovery continued to lose impulse in September. The lower speed of economic recovery observed between August and September, compared with the pace between May and July, was due to two main reasons: a strong fall in labor incomes, and the fact that the activities included in phase 4 of economic reopening were not resumed, causing a standstill in economic reactivation.

However, in September there were some positive signs on the economic and public health fronts.

On the economic front, indicators related to private investment and formal employment improved, as did the prices of mining exports. On the public health front, the number of infection cases and deaths caused by COVID-19 began to descend. In consequence, the government removed the lockdown on Sundays and the focalized quarantine in more than 20 provinces in 9 regions in the country, a measure that could result in a favorable impact on businesses in the commerce and restaurant sectors.

The above is positive news, but it is still too soon to expect an acceleration of economic recovery towards the end of the year. It is most likely that the economic situation of households and of businesses will remain weak, and global uncertainty, high.

In addition, the severe deterioration of the current political environment could affect economic recovery in the upcoming months, in three ways: business confidence could weaken; regulatory risk would remain high; and the macroeconomic fundamentals that make Peru stand out in the region could be jeopardized if a candidate with a populist bias were to win the presidential elections to be held next year.

In brief, in September there was good news for the business environment, but recovery will remain slow in the upcoming months.

To see the complete report, contact us at contactaSAE@apoyoconsultoria.com.

OUR PERSPECTIVE

Changes in the Cabinet have strengthened the alliance with Congress amid a context of growing institutional weakness.

The Government’s main allies, Fuerza Popular and APP, leveraged the crisis triggered by the murder of 13 mine workers in Pataz to strengthen their influence over ministerial appointments.

Economic growth likely remained steady at the beginning of Q2 and is becoming increasingly broad-based, despite the uncertain external environment.

So far this year, the economic recovery appears to have consolidated, with growth becoming more broad-based. Domestic demand has shown solid performance.

The serious deterioration in the conduct of economic policy in the United States would impact Peru's economic growth mainly in 2026.

In the first quarter of the year, economic growth remained solid (3.6%). This was the result of a combination of favorable dynamics for GDP.