Paraguay: 2013 Article IV Consultation-Staff Report; Press Release

This 2013 Article IV Consultation highlights that robust growth in Paraguay has been accompanied by declining inflation, particularly since 2011 when the central bank adopted inflation targeting. Despite the acceleration in growth in the 2000s, poverty and inequality in Paraguay remain among the highest in the region. Activity rebounded to an estimated 13 percent in 2013. The outlook for 2014 is positive. Growth should be strong at 4.8 percent, underpinned by continued dynamism in the agricultural sector and rising infrastructure investment. Annual inflation will likely increase to the central bank’s target rate of 5 percent.