Colombia retail sector adapts to 12% interest rates as dollar weakens

Retail businesses in Colombia are adjusting their commercial strategies in response to a 12% monetary policy rate set by the Banco de la República. To protect profit margins amidst high credit costs, retailers are increasingly utilizing financing schemes and technological platforms rather than offering price discounts. Despite these restrictive conditions, DANE reported a 14.7% increase in real retail sales, with significant growth in sectors such as televisions and sound (39.4%) and IT and telecommunications (34.4%).

In the currency market, the Colombian peso has seen movement as the official exchange rate (TRM) was set at $3,072.27 for September 12, 2026. This represents a 0.93% decrease compared to the previous day and marks the lowest level in over two weeks. The dollar remains below the $3,500 threshold, showing a significant decline of 18.23% since the beginning of the year.