FX.co ★ Chile’s Economy Slips into Contraction in Q1 2026 After Modest Late-2025 Growth

Chile’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.30% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter, marking a reversal from the modest expansion seen at the end of last year. The latest quarter‑over‑quarter data, updated on 18 May 2026, show the economy moving into negative territory after posting 0.60% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Under the quarter‑over‑quarter comparison framework, the current figure reflects the change in output between the first quarter of 2026 and the fourth quarter of 2025, while the earlier 0.60% reading captured the change from the third to the fourth quarter of 2025. The shift from positive to negative growth suggests a weakening short‑term momentum in Chile’s economic activity at the start of 2026.