Chile’s economy began the third quarter on a positive note with a 1% rise in the Imacec economic activity index in July compared to June, marking the first monthly expansion since April. The improvement was primarily driven by stronger performance in the mining sector, according to data released by the central bank on Monday.\n\nThe Imacec, which serves as a proxy for gross domestic product, also showed a year-on-year increase of 1.8%, slightly below the 1.9% average forecast compiled by analysts in a Bloomberg survey.\n\nThe uptick in economic momentum comes at a critical juncture, as domestic conditions are becoming a focal point in the lead-up to the country’s upcoming presidential election. With inflation pressures and consumer sentiment under scrutiny, policymakers and voters alike are watching economic trends closely.\n\nThe mining sector, a cornerstone of Chile’s export economy, played a key role in the rebound, benefiting from improved output and global demand for copper and other minerals.\n\nWhile the monthly gain signals a potential turnaround after several months of stagnation, economists caution that sustained recovery will depend on broader industrial and consumer activity in the coming months.\n\n— news from Bloomberg.com\n\n— News Original —\nChile Economic Activity Posts First Monthly Increase Since April\nChile’s economy kicked off the third quarter with solid monthly expansion driven by mining, as the pace of domestic activity becomes a central theme ahead of this year’s presidential election. \n\nThe Imacec index, a proxy for gross domestic product, rose 1% in July from June, its first monthly increase since April. Activity gained 1.8% from the prior year, just under the 1.9% median forecast of analysts in a Bloomberg survey, the central bank reported on Monday.
