Bloomberg - Mexico’s economy grew less than analysts expected in the first quarter, fueling bets policy makers will cut interest rates again this year. Gross domestic product in the first three months of the year rose 0.8 percent from the year-ago period.Economy & Finance
Police corruption widely accepted in Mexico, experts say
Latin American Herald Tribune - Police officers renting their patrol cars and uniforms to criminals, and paying supervisors for a particular beat are some common corrupt practices in Mexico, where there is widespread social acceptance, experts said.
Central bankers split on cutting interest rates
Reuters - Mexico's central bankers split over whether to send a signal they might cut interest rates if inflation keeps cooling, according to minutes of their January discussions.
www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/01/mexico-economy-minutes-idUSL1N0B1D5Y20130201
December trade deficit seen at $1.44 billion
Dow Jones - Mexico is seen posting its second-biggest monthly trade deficit this year for December on softer manufacturing exports and falling prices for crude-oil exports, but the nation's overall trade shortfall for 2012 is projected to be quite modest.
New telecom interconnection rules to be out in Feb.
Latin American Herald Tribune - New guidelines for the interconnection fees that Mexican telecommunications companies charge each other could be published in early February, regulators said.
China-Mexico ties are hitting "all-time low"
Asia Times - "We are completely 'clueless' when it comes to China." This statement by Enrique Dussel, director of the Center for China-Mexico Studies of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, describes the current state of Mexico-China relations.
Mexico's public debt is over 35 percent of GDP
IANS/EFE - Mexico's total public debt is at 35.8 percent of the gross domestic product, the Finance Secretariat said. About 80 percent of Mexico's domestic liabilities are long-term instruments at fixed interest rates and Udis.
Sonora assesses damage to crops from frigid frost
FreshFruitPortal - Officials estimate that over 2,000 hectares of tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelons and other products were seriously damaged by frosts that hit northern Mexico last week. Chihuahua and Sinaloa also reported widespread crop damage.
Inflation seen hitting 15-month low in early January
Dow Jones - Mexico's annual inflation rate is seen hitting a 15-month low in early January, giving more room to the central bank to implement a possible rate cut. Twelve-month inflation measured by the consumer-price index is seen easing to 3.38 percent.
Chamber urges trillions be spent on infrastructure
Business News Americas - The Mexican infrastructure sector can secure a 28.2 trillion peso investment ($2.23 trillion) between 2013 and 2018 with the right reforms, said Luis Zárate, president of the Mexican construction chamber CMIC.
Crusade against Hunger made official with publication
Prensa Latina - The Ministry of Social Development published in the Official Journal a decree regulating the Crusade Against Hunger in Mexico announced by President Enrique Peña Nieto.
