Ricardo Cusanno projects 7% growth for Venezuela's economy in 2026

Venezuela's economy will grow 7% this year and expand at a double-digit rate in 2027, according to estimates by former Fedecámaras president Ricardo Cusanno in an interview broadcast by the outlet La iguana TV on October 15, 2026.

During his remarks, Cusanno described his forecasts as conservative for the current period, while noting that the recovery process will require a gradual and firm approach aimed at consolidating long-term foundations of well-being for the nation's productive sector.

This forecast is consistent with the outlook laid out by other analysts and institutions. According to the outlet Crónica Uno, economist Asdrúbal Oliveros estimated that licenses granted by the US and a significant injection of funds into the foreign exchange market will drive economic growth of 6.8% by the end of this year, driven primarily by the oil sector.

Despite this revival in macroeconomic indicators, the private sector faces structural challenges related to purchasing power. According to data published by El Nacional, cumulative inflation in Venezuela reached 242.87% between January and September, while the organization Cedice projects that total inflation for 2026 will close in a range of 370% to 540% in bolívares.

As for estimates from multilateral bodies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that Venezuela's real GDP will grow 4.0% in 2026 and reach 6.0% in 2027. These figures are part of the institution's official projections and differ from the more optimistic expectations of the business sector.