Latin America Economics Update Explaining the weakness in Mexican industry The slump in Mexican industry late last year largely reflects domestic problems, particularly in the mining sector. But with the US economy now coming off the boil, the external environment will be an... 25th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Bi-Weekly CPI (Feb.) The larger-than-expected fall in Mexican inflation in the first half of February, to 3.9% y/y, brings the headline rate back into the central bank’s 2-4% target range for the first time in almost two... 22nd February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Unpacking the Pemex problem The Mexican government’s bailout for Pemex last week is unlikely to solve the company’s fundamental issues, which stem from an extremely heavy tax burden and chronically low productivity. In the... 20th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Industrial Production (Dec.) The surprise contraction in Mexican industrial production in December means that the sector was weaker over Q4 as a whole than we (and probably the statistics office) thought. As a result, there’s a... 11th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Weekly Guedes’ ambitious pension bill, Banxico statements Details of Brazilian Finance Minister Paulo Guedes’ pension reform unveiled this week are impressive, but political realities could yet scupper these plans. Elsewhere, despite the hawkish statement... 8th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Consumer Prices (Jan.) The larger-than-expected fall in Mexican inflation last month, to 4.4% y/y, adds to the reasons to think that Banxico will row back on previous hawkish rhetoric when it meets this evening. We expect... 7th February 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico GDP (Q4, Prov.) Preliminary Q4 GDP figures from Mexico were better than expected, but showed a sharp slowdown in growth from Q3. We still expect growth to accelerate this year and our forecast for a pick-up to 2.5%... 30th January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Focus Mexican interest rates to fall by more than most expect Mexican inflation has been stubbornly above Banxico’s 2-4% target over the past two years, but we think it will fall back within this range by year-end. And with the Fed’s tightening cycle near its... 29th January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Bi-Weekly (Jan.) The larger-than-expected fall in Mexican inflation in the first half of January, combined with the recent rally in the peso, means that we no longer expect a 25bp interest rate hike at next month’s... 24th January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Industrial Production (Nov.) The surprise contraction in Mexican industrial production in November – the second consecutive monthly fall – all but confirms that overall GDP growth slowed sharply in Q4. As things stand, following... 11th January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Data Response Mexico Consumer Prices (Dec.) The rise in Mexican inflation, from 4.7% y/y in November to 4.8% y/y in December, means that another 25bp interest rate hike (to 8.50%) at next month’s meeting is still likely. However, this will... 9th January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Weekly Bolsonaro boost continues, Banxico a bit less hawkish Brazilian markets have performed strongly this week as hopes for business-friendly reforms under President Jair Bolsonaro have continued to build, but we think that the rally may run out of steam... 4th January 2019 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Banxico continues to toe hawkish line The statement accompanying the Mexican central bank’s decision to raise interest rates by another 25bp was very hawkish, suggesting that the board is not done tightening yet. As such, we’re still... 21st December 2018 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Three questions on Mexico’s airport bond saga The Mexico City airport bond dispute appears to be at an impasse and, if the wrangle drags on, sovereign bond yields are likely to drift up, and Banxico would be more likely to hike interest rates... 18th December 2018 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Update Amlo’s 2019 budget: tacking back to the centre? The prudent 2019 budget presented by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Amlo) at the weekend is probably an attempt to try to get investors back onside after a series of policy moves which... 17th December 2018 · 1 min read
Latin America Economics Weekly Amlo’s first budget, Argentina in recession Mexico’s 2019 budget that will be presented to Congress on Saturday looks set to (unrealistically) target a primary budget surplus. But, more importantly, if spending is projected to rise by much more... 14th December 2018 · 1 min read
