Costa Rica Data Hub
A short list of indicators we track, each with its source and the date of the data. Figures marked preliminary may be revised. Last updated 15 October 2026. Always check the “as of” date, and see our methodology for how we verify figures.
Economic activity (IMAE, trend-cycle, year over year)
The special regimes (which include free zones) slowed by 15.3 points versus August 2025, while the definitive regime gained 0.5 points. The monthly pace of special regimes rose 0.2 points versus July, ending twelve months of deceleration, and BCCR expects a recovery in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Growth by activity, August 2026 (year over year)
| Activity | Growth |
|---|---|
| Construction (private 11.7%, public infrastructure 9.0%) | 11.0% |
| Financial and insurance services | 4.1% |
| Real estate services | 3.4% |
| Commerce | 2.8% |
| Professional and administrative services | 2.8% |
| Hotels and restaurants | 2.6% |
| Agriculture and livestock | 0.4% |
| Manufacturing | -1.1% |
Prices and monetary policy
| Indicator | Value | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer price inflation, year over year | 0.34% (first positive reading after 16 months of negative readings; still below the 2% to 4% tolerance range) | Sep 2026 | INEC via Delfino.cr and La Nación |
| Consumer price inflation, monthly | 0.11% | Sep 2026 | INEC via Delfino.cr and La Nación |
| Monetary policy rate | 3.00%, held unchanged after a 25 bp cut in July | 24 Sep 2026 | BCCR |
| BCCR GDP growth forecast | 3.4% (2026), 3.5% (2027) | Latest BCCR release; date not verified | BCCR |
| Basic passive rate (TBP) | 3.57% | Effective 8 Oct 2026 | BCCR |
| TED rate | 2.98% | Effective 8 Oct 2026 | BCCR |
Foreign direct investment, first half of 2026 (preliminary)
| Measure | H1 2026 |
|---|---|
| FDI excluding the Heineken/Fifco transaction | US$2.74 billion (+23.4%) |
| Heineken/Fifco transaction (separate) | about US$3.2 billion |
| FDI including that transaction | US$5.94 billion |
| Free zones | US$1.74 billion (+35%) |
| Ordinary regime | US$569.7 million (+46.9%) |
| Manufacturing | US$1.95 billion (+9.8%) |
| Tourism | US$157.9 million (-27%) |
| United States share of FDI | 68.9% |
Source: Procomer and BCCR, preliminary first-half 2026 figures, via Delfino.cr (1 October 2026).
Notes and limits
Exchange rates and market prices are not shown because we only publish figures we have checked against an official release. This page is informational and is not investment, legal or tax advice. See our latest Insights for analysis of these numbers.