General: The inflation rate in Mexico shot up to an uncomfortable 4.95% in May. The Central Bank reacted and increased the benchmark interest rate to 7.75% on June 20, indicating that more hikes could follow. Canada's inflation rate remains the lowest of all three North American Free Trade Association (Nafta) countries, but its economic growth remains weak.
General Data:
GDP |
Consumer Price Index and last year |
Industrial Production |
Unem-ployment |
Trade Balance past 12 months |
Currency as of June 25 and last year |
|
+2.6% Q1 |
+4.95% May (+3.9%) |
+5.5% April |
3.2% May |
-$ 8.9bn May |
10.3 (10.9) |
|
+1.7% Q1 |
+2.2% May (unchanged) |
-4.8% March |
6.1% May |
+$ 45.6bn April |
1.01 (1.07) |
Automotive and Steel Production
Total Units May |
+ - 2007 |
Units Year-to-date |
+ - 2007 |
Steel Prod May 000/MT |
+ - 2007 |
Year-to-date 000/MT |
+ - 2007 |
|
175,220 |
-4.6% |
867,973 |
+7.5% |
1,665 |
+16.5% |
8,032 |
+12.0% |
|
179,794 |
-23.5% |
934,029 |
-18.8% |
1,395 |
+6.1% |
7,015 |
+ 4.0% |
Total Intra Nafta Steel Shipments 2007 in Thousand Metric Tons
Ttl Intra Nafta |
From US |
From Mexico |
From Canada |
|
5,611 |
5,523 |
54 |
- |
|
4,291 |
3,799 |
- |
491 |
|
US |
9,006 |
- |
2,866 |
6,140 |