The Business Expectations Index (IEE) of the Paraguayan National Chamber of Commerce and Services (CNCSP) registered 49.83 points in May 2026, a slight increase from April's 49.68 points. Despite the improvement, the index remains below the 50-point mark, which separates optimism from pessimism, keeping the sentiment of Paraguayan business owners in negative territory.
The financial sector led the confidence ranking, with 50.33 points, followed by commerce, which reached 50.07 points — both already in the optimism zone. Transportation and the real estate market were in neutral territory, with 50.00 points each. Meanwhile, construction (49.83) and other services (49.50) remained on the threshold of pessimism.
The assessment of recent activity showed recovery across several segments. Commerce saw the most significant advance: the indicator for sales over the past three months rose from 50.00 to 50.50 points. Construction also rebounded, with the perception of recent activity moving from 48.50 to 50.00 points and the current order book advancing from 48.00 to 50.00 points, signaling an improvement in the sector's operating conditions.
In the financial sector, the assessment of companies' current situation rose from 49.50 to 50.50 points, while transportation held its valuation steady. In contrast, the real estate market underwent a downward correction: the perception of companies' current situation in the sector fell from 51.50 to 50.00 points.
Employment expectations showed modest variations. Commerce and transportation improved their hiring projections for the next three months, moving from 49.00 to 50.00 points in both cases, leaving the pessimism zone. Construction also recorded a recovery in recent employment, with an increase from 48.50 to 49.50 points. Meanwhile, the financial sector retreated in both the assessment of current employment and expectations, which fell from 50.00 to 49.50 points. In the real estate segment, the employment indicator for the past three months contracted by 0.99%.
Regarding prices, commerce stood out by raising its adjustment expectations from 49.50 to 50.50 points. Transportation and construction, on the other hand, reduced their projections for increases: the transportation indicator moved from 51.00 to 49.50 points, and construction's fell from 50.50 to 49.50 points.
Forecasts for economic activity in the short term showed a favorable evolution, driven mainly by commerce. Sales expectations for the next three months rose from 48.50 to 50.50 points, and orders to suppliers for the next quarter advanced from 49.00 to 51.00 points. The financial sector also strengthened its outlook, with future demand (revenue) moving from 50.50 to 51.50 points, while other services improved from 49.00 to 50.00 points in the same variable.
The real estate sector, however, showed a significant correction: the perception of companies' future situation fell from 52.00 to 50.00 points, and demand expectations for the next three months retreated from 51.50 to 50.00 points. In construction, expectations moderated, although the indicator remained at neutral levels, with companies continuing to point to financial constraints as the main obstacle to new projects. Transportation maintained a stable perception of companies' situation, but demand expectations for the next three months grew by 1.01%, reaching a neutral level.