The Conference Board CEI for Mexico also increased again in October, with employment contributing positively to the index. The six-month change in the index stands at 0.6 percent (a 1.1 percent annual rate) for the period through October, up sharply from -5.5 percent (a -10.6 percent annual rate) for the previous six months. In addition, the strengths among the coincident indicators have become more widespread than the weaknesses in recent months. Meanwhile, real GDP expanded at a 12.2 percent annual rate in the third quarter of 2009, its first increase in a year.
The Conference Board LEI for Mexico has risen for more than half a year now amid widespread strength among its components. However, its growth rate has slowed in recent months. Meanwhile, The Conference Board CEI for Mexico began increasing in July 2009, and its six-month growth rate has picked up further. All in all, the recent behavior of the composite indexes suggests that economic conditions will continue to improve in the near term.
LEADING INDICATORS
Two of the six components that make up The Conference Board LEI for Mexico increased in October. The positive contributors to the index–from the largest positive contributor to the smallest one–are the US refiners’ acquisition cost of domestic and imported crude oil and the (inverted) real exchange rate. Industrial production construction component, stock prices, and net insufficient inventories decreased in October. The (inverted) federal funds rate remained unchanged.
With the 0.4 percent increase in October, The Conference Board LEI for Mexico now stands at 111.5 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index increased 0.2 percent in September and increased 0.6 percent in August. During the six-month span through October, the index increased 7.1 percent, with five of the six components increasing (diffusion index, six-month span equals 83.3 percent).
COINCIDENT INDICATORS
One of the three components that make up The Conference Board CEI for Mexico increased in October. The positive contributor was the number of people employed (measured by IMSS beneficiaries). Industrial production and retail sales declined.
With the increase of 0.1 percent in October, The Conference Board CEI for Mexico now stands at 106.3 (2004=100). Based on revised data, this index increased 0.6 percent in September and increased 0.6 percent in August. During the six-month span through October, the index increased 0.6 percent, with two of the three components increasing (diffusion index, six-month span equals 66.7 percent).
