Mexico's economy slowed in the fourth quarter to its lowest pace since early 2021, as the agriculture and industrial sectors dragged on growth.
Mexico's gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to annualized rate of 0.6pc, statistics agency Inegi reported. This is down from an annual 1.6pc in the third quarter and 2.1pc growth in the second quarter, which was the strongest quarter last year.
The result marks the slowest growth in 15 quarters for Mexico, coming in below estimates.
This was largely due to annualized 4.6pc decline in the agriculture sector, swinging from 4.1pc growth in the third quarter as drought conditions return.
Inegi reported the industrial component of GDP also contracted, down 1.7pc in the fourth quarter, compared with a 0.5pc expansion in the previous quarter, on slowing construction and persistent declines in the oil component.
Services, meanwhile, expanded an annualized 2.1pc in the fourth quarter, compared with a 2.2pc expansion in the previous quarter.
Inegi reported full-year GDP growth at 1.5pc in 2024, slowing from 3.3pc in 2023 and the lowest level since the pandemic-stricken downturn in 2020.
By James Young
