Belizeans End 2025 Less Confident About the Economy

Belizeans closed out 2025 with mixed feelings about the economy, according to the latest Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) released by the Statistical Institute of Belize.

The index dipped slightly in December to 47.9, down from 48.2 in November. A score below 50 indicates that more consumers feel pessimistic than optimistic.

The CCI measures how people view the overall economy, their household finances, and whether it is a good time to make major purchases. The decline was driven mainly by weaker expectations for the year ahead and growing hesitation to buy big-ticket items such as cars, appliances and furniture.

Confidence varied across the country. Stann Creek recorded the sharpest drop, falling from an optimistic 52.9 in November to 48.3 in December. Toledo showed the strongest improvement, jumping from 48.7 to 57.4, largely due to stronger expectations for the year ahead.

The survey also found a divide between urban and rural residents. Urban consumers reported a slight increase in confidence, while rural residents grew more cautious, particularly about making large purchases.