The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has welcomed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) 2026 Staff Report on the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), agreeing with its assessment that the region continues to demonstrate strong macroeconomic stability despite ongoing external shocks.

In its statement published on April 28^th, 2026, the ECCB noted that tourism-led growth has underpinned recent economic performance, with real GDP expanding by an estimated 3.4 per cent between 2023 and 2025 and projected to grow by 3.3 per cent in 2026. Inflation has eased in line with global trends, and the financial system remains broadly stable, supported by strong liquidity, capital buffers, and improving asset quality.

However, both the IMF and ECCB highlighted persistent fiscal challenges. The central bank acknowledged that while public debt has declined from 88.2 per cent of GDP in 2020 to 79.0 per cent in 2025, progress has slowed, placing the region’s 2035 debt target at risk.

The ECCB cautioned that downside risks dominate the outlook amid elevated global economic uncertainty, including the ongoing war in the Middle East, higher import costs, and structural constraints weighing on productivity and investment. It reaffirmed its commitment to financial sector reform, data improvement, and its long-term “Big Push” agenda aimed at transforming and doubling the region’s economy over the next decade.