Market note — October 2026: rates rise, tourism remains strong

The Central Bank raised its monetary policy rate from 5.25% to 5.50% on September 30 in a decision it described as preventive, and on October 30 it maintained it at 5.50%. At the same time, tourism continues to grow and the economy is advancing at a good pace. For buyers and sellers, these are the figures that matter this month.

The figures

• Rates. In September, the monetary policy rate moved to 5.50% per annum; the overnight repo facility to 6.00%; and the deposit rate to 4.75%. The Central Bank attributed this to supply shocks "more persistent than anticipated," rising oil prices, and tighter international financial conditions (El Dinero, September 30, 2026). On October 30, it kept all three rates unchanged, citing international uncertainty and high oil prices, and projected that inflation will return to the target range in the fourth quarter (Diario Libre, October 30, 2026).
• Inflation. It dropped to 5.12% year-on-year in September, still above the 4% ± 1% target. Core inflation, which excludes the most volatile prices, fell to 4.61% and remains within the target range (El Dinero, October 13, 2026).
• Growth. The economy grew 4.5% between January and August, and the projection for 2026 is around 4.5% (El Dinero, September 30, 2026).
• Peso. At the end of August, the peso accumulated an appreciation of more than 7% for the year and international reserves exceeded US$15,000 million (El Dinero, August 31, 2026).
• Tourism. Between January and August, 8,556,415 visitors arrived, 6.9% more than in 2025: 6,610,259 by air (+8.6%) and 1,946,157 by cruise (+1.4%), according to the Ministry of Tourism (Revista Mercado, September 14, 2026).

My reading

• If you are financing in pesos, it is advisable to quote with several banks now and ask about fixed rates. A higher reference rate tends to make credit more expensive, and the Central Bank reviews its decision every month.
• If you buy in dollars with income in pesos, a stronger peso makes each dollar cost you fewer pesos. If your income is in dollars, the opposite happens.
• If you are investing for tourist rental, visitor growth sustains demand in areas like Punta Cana and Las Terrenas. Even so, evaluate each unit by its net yield, not by the headline.

My advice: rates go up and down; a good purchase is sustained by location, price and the quality of the property. Use the context to negotiate better, not to rush.

Market note with cited press data, current as of November 1, 2026.