Ecuador Sales Rise 19.1% in August to $25.725 Billion

Ecuador’s electronically invoiced sales reached $25.725 billion in August 2026, an increase of 19.1% from the same month a year earlier, when they totaled $21.601 billion.

The figures cover transactions across a wide range of activities, including commerce, transport, mining, electricity, professional services, real estate and tourism. They therefore offer a view of formal economic activity beyond stores, supermarkets and restaurants.

August sales exceeded July’s total of $25.6073 billion, when year-on-year growth stood at 16.7%. The faster pace has drawn attention to what the figures can and cannot show. Higher billing may reflect greater volumes, but it can also result from higher prices. Sales data therefore cannot replace measures such as gross domestic product, employment and inflation.

Growth varied sharply by sector. Mining and quarrying led the increase, rising 96.9% from August 2025. Transport and storage climbed 26.9%, commerce rose 24%, and electricity supply increased 20.8%. Tourism grew 18.3%, while professional services and real estate rose 14.3% and 13.5%, respectively.

For households, workers and small businesses, the effect will depend on whether sustained sales growth leads to higher production, inventories, transport demand, suppliers and hiring. A larger volume of billing does not automatically mean that incomes or employment have increased at the same rate.