GDP: + 4.8% in 2006. Because of a potential slowdown in the US economy, expectations for 2007 are no higher than 3.6%.
Consumer Prices: + 4.1% in February - a five year high and slightly up from 3.98% in January. Though this is still a tame inflation rate by historical Mexican standards, it remains consistently above the Central Bank's target of 3%. Speculations are that an increase of the benchmark lending rate (7.0%) is imminent. The consumer confidence index fell 4.2% in February compared to last year and 0.7% compared to January.
Industrial Production: + 1.4% in February
Unemployment: 4.0% in January
Automotive Industry: 157,628 units were built in February, a decline of 6.4% compared to last year; car sales fell 3.4% in February to 86,058 units, while exports fell 8.2% to 111,084 units.
Trade Balance: - $8.2 billion as of January for the previous 12 months
Steel Production: 1.3 million mt (e) in February and 2.7 million mt for the first two months of 2007 - almost identical to the year before
Currency: Peso 11.2 to US$1 as of March 21 (Peso 10.8 to US$1 last year)
GDP: + 0.4% in December - the best month of the year; +2.7% for 2006 which is a slight deceleration from 2005
Consumer Prices: + 2.0% in February
Industrial Production: There was stagnation in November and December 2006. Durable Goods showed an encouraging growth of 1.8% in February, and the Housing Index rose 0.7% in February.
Unemployment: 6.1% in February
Automotive Industry: 228,377 units were built in February - a decline of 1.9% from last year. For the first two months, 439,142 units were built, or 2.0% less than last year
Trade Balance: + $47.3 billion as of January for the previous twelve months
Steel Production: 950,000 mt (e) in February, or 23.5% less than last year. For the year, steel production is 21.1% behind last year's pace.
Currency: C$1.18 to US$1 as of March 21 (C$1.16 to US$1 a year ago)