Data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) reveal that the business climate indicator in the countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) rose by 0 .6 points during the month of April 2021 compared to the previous month. This index summarizes the opinions of business leaders on the economy.

The index rose in almost all WAEMU countries and reflects business leaders' perception of favorable economic conditions. It stood at 102.2 against 101.6 in March 2021. According to the issuing institute, “this development reflects the increase in order books and the improvement in the cash position of companies”. Activity indicators recorded a significant increase in April 2021 compared to their levels in April 2020, which had been marked by the restrictive measures taken at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus the index of turnover in trade rose by 16.4%, over one year, in April 2021, after a rise of 5.6% the previous month, in line with the increase sales of food products, textiles and automobiles.

Similarly, the index of turnover in market services increased by 20.3% during the month of April 2021, after an increase of 15.7% the previous month. Regarding industrial production, the BCEAO notes that it strengthened with an increase of 12.7% during the month under review against 10.7% in March 2021, in line with the good orientation of food production, textiles and petroleum. In addition, the inflation rate should come out, year-on-year, at 3.1% at the end of April 2021, after reaching 2.5% the previous month. "The acceleration in the pace of price growth is mainly driven by the Food and Housing components, whose contributions to total inflation increased by 0.3 percentage point and 0.2 percentage point respectively", explains the BCEAO. . The rise in the food component is linked to the rise in the price of vegetables and fruit, tubers and plantains, as well as fish products in almost all countries, due to an upturn in demand induced by expenses of the month of Ramadan.