Bolivia Merchandise Imports (USD bn)

GDP growth weakened slightly in Q3 compared to Q2 due to softer growth of total consumption and fixed investment. Our panelists expect GDP growth to have slowed further in Q4 amid higher average inflation. Heading into the new year, developments have been mixed. On the one hand, average inflation in January–February fell compared to Q4, boding well for private spending. On the other hand, the risk of a run on the currency has grown over the past few weeks. International reserves—excluding gold—fell from USD 1.3 billion at the end of 2022 to just USD 0.9 billion as of 8 February. That figure has probably fallen since; the Central Bank of Bolivia sold several million dollars in just a few days in early March, after announcing that it would sell dollars directly to Bolivians at the official pegged rate of BOB 6.96 per USD to calm fears of a dollar shortage.