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El Salvador’s economic activity maintained a positive trajectory during march 2026. According to data from the Banco Central de Reserva (BCR), the Índice de Volumen de la Actividad Económica (IVAE) reached 132.8 points, surpassing the 131.8 points recorded in february of the same year, representing a monthly growth of 0.8%.
In addition to the progress observed between february and march, the indicator also showed favorable year-on-year growth. Compared to march 2025, when the IVAE stood at 127.4 points, the index registered a growth of 4.2%, a rate that the BCR indicates as the annual expansion of Salvadoran economic activity.
Industrial production led monthly growth
During march, the main driver for the economy came from the industrial sector. The Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose from 108.0 points in february to 110.3 points in march, equivalent to a monthly increase of 2.1%, making it the best-performing sector of the period.
The second fastest-growing sector was agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing, which increased from 101.6 to 102.5 points, reflecting an expansion of 0.9%.
Professional, scientific, technical, administrative, support, and other service activities also saw a 0.9% increase, rising from 152.2 to 153.6 points, demonstrating positive performance during the month.
Another sector that registered positive performance was real estate activities, whose index increased from 118.1 to 119.3 points, for a monthly change of 1.0%.
Likewise, public administration and defense, education, health, and social assistance activities grew from 121.3 to 123.3 points, representing a 1.7% increase, placing them among the best-performing sectors in march.
Meanwhile, financial and insurance activities continued their strong performance, rising from 171.2 to 172.2 points, equivalent to a monthly increase of 0.6%.
Together, these sectors offset the less favorable results observed in other economic activities and contributed to the overall growth of the IVAE during march.
Information and communications saw the biggest drop
Although the overall balance for the month was positive, some sectors showed declines.
The most significant decrease was observed in information and communications, whose index fell from 142.1 points in february to 136.6 points in march, a reduction of 3.9%, making it the sector with the largest monthly drop.
A slight contraction was also reported in trade, transportation and storage, and accommodation and food service activities, which went from 137.2 to 136.9 points, equivalent to a decrease of 0.2%.
Meanwhile, construction showed no change during the period analyzed. The index remained at 195.7 points in both february and march, reflecting a monthly variation of 0.0%.
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