Paraguay : Fifth Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement: Staff Report; Press Release on the Executive Board Discussion; and Statement by the Executive Director for Paraguay

The rebound in inflation since mid-2007 is mostly owed to a jump in food prices in Paraguay. The price volatility of fruits and vegetables explains the divergence between headline and core inflation indicators observed in 2007. Following a decline that started in 2006, core inflation has risen in the second part of 2007. High export volume growth, coupled with a slowdown in import growth, have led to a turn around in the current account from a small deficit in 2006 to a surplus of about 1 ½ percent of GDP in 2007.