Investment

The gross fixed investment (GFI) figures for December were published today, ten weeks after the year ended. GFI rose a less than impressive 2.3% last year. While GDP (in current pesos) might have recovered its 2008 by the final quarter of 2100, GFI certainly wasn't driving the recovery: GFI dropped 10.1% in 2009.

GFI in machinery and equipment rose 4.3% last year, After plunging 18.7% in 2009, GFI in nationally-produced machinery and equipment climbed 13.3%, its fastest growth rate in seven years. Imported machinery and equipment inched up a mere 0.8% in 2010 after plummeting 22.0% in 2009. It will be interesting to see if this is a one-time effect or presages a switch in sourcing. Construction

Will the Fed put an end to monetary stimulus this year?

The Mexican government doesn't think so, if the wording in the statement issued on June 23 by the Council on Financial Stability (CESF, comprised of Hacienda, Banco de Mexico, the CNBV, the Insurance Commission, the Consar and the IPAB -- in short, the financial regulators) is any guide. The CESF does not expect the Fed to "retire the monetary stimulus before the beginning of 2012".

The consequences are interesting: "therefore, the risk that capital flows to emerging markets will revert when US monetary policy is normalized has diminished. Nonetheless, risk persists due to the financing needs or renewed volatility caused by the fiscal problems of developed countries." In other words, we're not out of the woods yet.