• Mexico: Economic activity contracts in August

In August, the GDP monthly proxy (IGAE) dropped monthly, to -0.3% m/m in seasonally adjusted figures (SA), resulting from a -9.1% m/m bounce back in agricultural activities, and a -0.5% decrease in industry, albeit services held to moderate growth, at 0.3% (chart 1). 

On an annual basis, the IGAE slowed to 0.4% y/y NSA from the previous 3.8% y/y. By components, industry fell -0.9% (vs. 2.2% previously) owing to manufacturing being stagnant at 0.1%, and a sharp decline in construction, at -4.5% as public infrastructure projects wind down in what was AMLO’s second-to-last month in office. Agriculture and farming activities also slid -2.1% after the previous surge of 11.9%. Meanwhile, services activity grew, but the pace of expansion moderated considerably from 4.3% to 1.3%; notably, wholesale dropped to -2.0% from 7.2% and retail cooled to 1.5% from 5.4% (table 1). 

Looking ahead, we think that economic activity will continue facing weakness owing to slower consumption and depressed investment negatively affected by the high degree of economic and political uncertainty.

—Rodolfo Mitchell, Brian Pérez & Miguel Saldaña