*Costa Rica’s national statistics institute (Inec) has released new figures showing that the monthly rate of inflation in December 2024 was 0.94%, bringing the annual rate to 0.84%. This is up from 0.47% monthly inflation in November when the annual rate was -0.09%. The sectors most driving up the December monthly inflation rate, which the Inec describes as the highest monthly inflation rate of the past two years, were food & non-alcoholic drinks (+3.12%) and recreation, sport & culture (+4.88%).