The Government and Panamanian private business leaders agree today that
mP4 the economy will grow this year by between 6% to
Mp4 player 7% but they also note their concerns about rising oil
Mp3 player prices and the domestic agricultural crisis. The Panamanian Vice Minister
Iphone 4 cases of Economy, Frank De Lima, told Efe that the Government
electronic cigarette maintains its projection of a 7% growth of the gross
HEADPHONES domestic product (GDP) for 2011. "We're optimistic because in January the Monthly Economic Activity Index
(IMAE, which measures major macroeconomic
ELECTRONICS figures) grew 6.6%, while in the same month of 2010
Mp3 players comparative growth was only 4.2%," said De Lima. He recognized
iphone Cases the increases in the international oil market "have a direct
WHOLESALE impact on inflation", because Panama is a net importer of
BATTERY oil derivatives. The National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC)
e cigarette said Wednesday that the annual rate of Consumer Price Index
SPEAKERS (CPI) stood at 5% in February, two tenths higher than
Pen drive in January. In 2010, the CPI rose 3.5% "and we
Iphone accessories expect the same for this year," said the deputy minister.
BATTERIES De Lima added that this year the government will continue
Iphone Case the subsidy program to offset higher prices for fuel, gas
TORCH and power generation, which in 2010 reached $190 million dollars.
SPEAKER On the crisis in the agricultural sector, he said the
Wireless headphones government is trying to reverse the situation with credits to
FLash Drive producers who have given up or sold their land, and
Bluetooth headphones with the construction of a "cold chain" to preserve their
FLASHLIGHT products.
When asked, the economist of the Chamber of Commerce,
USb flash drive Manuel Ferreira, told Efe that he hopes the GDP will
Electronic cigarettes grow by about 6% this year and continue the upward
HEADPHONE trend of last year, when it grew by 7.5% leaving
usb 2.0 behind the mild increase of 3.2% in 2009. Ferreira said
Rechargeable batteries unemployment fell by one tenth of a percentage point last
iphone Covers year and ended up at 6.5%, and foreign direct investment
Computer speakers reached $2.36 billion dollars, compared to $1.75 billion in 2009.
Best headphones "We see 2011 as a positive year, but we believe
Noise Cancelling Headphones GDP growth will be slightly lower (than 2010), probably close
Iphone 4 accessories to 6% and this is explained by several factors, international
Stop smoking and local, as well as inflation (.. .) and higher
Wholesalers oil," he said. This year, rising food and fuel prices
Flash Memory could add to a jump in electricity rates, which makes
Noise canceling headphones the situation "a little difficult," admitted Ferreira. "We do not
Iphone 3gs cases think prices are going to double, but inflation is likely
E cig to reach between 5% and 6% in 2011. In 2008
flashlightS it was 8% and, although I do not think it
wholesale electronics will reach that level, yes we will have some increases
usb sticks in agricultural commodities," said the economist of the Chamber of
Thumb drive Commerce. He emphasized, however, that the rise in oil prices
Iphone cover has a positive effect on the Panama Canal, because it
Flash drives becomes "more competitive because it shortens distances and saves fuel."
cell phone covers Other positive elements for the country's economy this year are the programs of public investment in roads