Venezuela's Economy Grew 5.5% in 2012 -Central Bank

CARACAS--Venezuela's economy grew 5.5% in 2012, spurred by a sweeping government initiative to address a housing shortfall of 2.7 million homes in the South American country, according to preliminary data released by the central bank Thursday.

Venezuela: Economy grew 5.6 at start of 2012

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's economy grew 5.6 percent during the first three months of the year, continuing expansion that began at the end of 2010, the country's planning minister said Thursday.

Fitch: Latin America Sovereign Creditworthiness Trends Stable in 2012

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings has published its Latin America Sovereign Outlook for 2012, noting that sovereign creditworthiness trends in Latin America are expected to remain broadly stable in 2012 (only the Dominican Republic is currently on Positive Outlook) following the positive credit cycle of the last 12-18 months.

Venezuela Forces Sale of Rental Properties

CARACAS—Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez signed a new rental law into effect over the weekend that obliges landlords to sell their property to tenants of more than 20 years at state-mandated discounts based on how long the space has been rented.

Argentine economic plan: Raise spending, salaries

While the U.S. and Europe struggle to revive their economies by imposing austerity measures, South American leaders have generally done the opposite, spending their way to growth and the voters' acclaim.

Few have gone farther afield from the economic doctrines of Washington and Brussels than Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez, who proudly says that her government is doing more than any other in Latin America to improve the buying power of her citizens.

Chavez's 'reverse miracle' with Venezuela's economy

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's critics took advantage of his absence for cancer treatment in Cuba to blame him for all kinds of misdeeds, but it's time to give him credit for having performed a true economic miracle in his country.

I'm not kidding. What Chavez has done in Venezuela over the last 12 years is nothing short of an economic miracle: Despite benefiting from the biggest oil boom in Venezuela's history, he has somehow managed to turn the country into a shambles.

Venezuela’s Recovery From Latin America’s Longest Slump Gaining Momentum

Venezuela’s gross domestic product expanded at the quickest pace in almost three years in the first quarter as government spending backed by higher oil prices helped the economy emerge from Latin America’s longest recession faster than expected.

The country’s GDP rose 4.5 percent in the first three months of the year from the same period in 2010, the central bank said today in an e-mailed statement. Growth was more than twice as fast as the 1.7 percent median estimate of eight economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

Venezuela sees 3 to 4 pct economic growth in 1Q

Venezuela's Central Bank says the economy is showing signs of rebounding from two years of recession. The banks says it's likely the economy grew between 3 percent and 4 percent in the first three months of 2011.

Venezuela's economy contracted 1.4 percent last year and 3.3 percent in 2009.