In a surprising shift after months of stagnation, Belize’s consumer sentiment has recorded its first monthly uptick of 2026, new official data shows. The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) announced on August 27 that the national Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rose 3.6 percentage points from June’s reading of 41.1 to hit 42.6 in July.
The modest overall improvement masks broad-based gains across all three core metrics that make up the benchmark index. The largest jump was seen in the Present Conditions component, which measures public perception of current economic circumstances relative to 12 months prior. This metric climbed 7.1 points to reach 40.2, up from June’s 37.6. Sentiment around big-ticket durable goods purchases, the second index component, rose 3.3 points to settle at 35.5 from 34.4. The Expectations component, which tracks consumer outlooks for future economic performance, posted the smallest gain, inching up 1.2 points from 51.4 to 52.0.
While the national trend is positive, the uptick in confidence is far from uniform across the country’s districts, demographic groups, and regions. Orange Walk District notched the most dramatic increase, with overall consumer confidence surging 12.6 percentage points. That gain was fueled by an extraordinary 45.6 percent jump in consumer willingness to commit to major household purchases. By contrast, Stann Creek District recorded the nation’s sharpest decline, with overall confidence falling 10.7 percent. The drop there was driven by a 19.2 percent plummet in future expectations, as local residents grew markedly more pessimistic about long-term economic trajectories.
A similar divide separates urban and rural consumer sentiment across Belize. Urban consumers saw their overall confidence climb 6.5 percent, led by a 16.9 percent surge in durable goods sentiment. More urban residents reported growing openness to purchasing big-ticket items including consumer electronics, home furniture, and personal vehicles. Rural confidence saw only a modest 1.4 percent uptick, driven entirely by improved views of current economic conditions rather than future spending plans. Notably, rural sentiment toward durable goods purchases actually fell 6.1 percent over the month.
Demographic breakdowns by age also reveal sharp divergences in sentiment. Adults between the ages of 25 and 34 recorded the largest confidence gain of any age group, with an overall 10 percent increase that included improvements across all three index components. On the opposite end of the spectrum, younger consumers aged 18 to 24 posted the steepest overall confidence decline of any cohort. That drop stemmed from a 21.6 percent fall in durable goods sentiment, paired with weakening views of both current economic conditions and future job and income prospects.
Ethnic breakdowns also show conflicting trends: Creole respondents recorded a 10.8 percent overall improvement in confidence, powered by a 22.6 percent jump in willingness to make major purchases. Garifuna respondents reported the opposite trend, with overall confidence falling 10.7 percent amid growing pessimism about both current economic circumstances and future big-ticket spending.
Even by gender, gaps in confidence growth are visible. Overall confidence among male consumers rose 2.4 percent, while female consumers saw a stronger 4.8 percent increase. Women’s gains were driven primarily by improving perceptions of current domestic economic conditions.
For context, the SIB’s CCI is a monthly benchmark that ranges from 0 to 100, with readings above 50 generally indicating that consumers hold overall optimistic views about the economy. The institute notes that the index serves as an important leading indicator for broader national economic performance, since consumer spending accounts for a large share of Belize’s total economic output. Changes in consumer confidence typically signal upcoming shifts in household spending, saving, and investment patterns that shape overall economic growth in subsequent quarters.