Latin America economic news summary

ICIS Editorial

25-May-2018

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Here are the economic news stories on the Latin America region for the week ended 25 May:

Mexico’s economy grew by 2.3% year on year in the first quarter, the state statistical agency (INEGI) said on 23 May. Quarter on quarter, GDP grew by 1.1%, Inegi said.

Mexico’s central bank maintained its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 7.5% on 17 May amid uncertainty stemming from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Mexican peso. The bank said the current rate should help inflation fall back to its 3% target and that it was closely following potential inflation pressures from a weaker peso.

The peso has tumbled close to 5% this month to its weakest in more than a year, largely because of a stronger dollar. The central bank said “domestic factors” also weakened the currency. Mexican policymakers said the peso could be further hurt by uncertainty about Mexico’s presidential election on 1 July, as well the renegotiation of NAFTA.

Mexico’s producer price index (PPI) declined by 0.04% in April month on month, INEGI said on 9 May. For the year it rose by 4.00%.  The figures exclude petroleum. By sector, producer prices for chemicals dropped by 1.20% month on month but were up by 5.33% for the year. Plastic and rubber products were down by 0.12% month on month but were up by 3.96% for the year. Petroleum products were up by 0.83% month on month and up for the year at 14.37%, INEGI said.

Mexico’s industrial production in March was steady year on year and also stable from the previous month, INEGI said on 11 May.

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