Mexico Private Investment Keeps Sliding

Mexico’s gross fixed investment increased 5.7% year-on-year in August 2026, easing from a 6.6% rise in July and coming in below market expectations of a 6.5% gain. This marks a fifth consecutive month of expansion, albeit at a softer pace as investment growth slowed in the private sector (4.8% vs 6.7%). By contrast, investment in the public sector surged 11.1% following a 6.2% rise. Investment growth in machinery and equipment slowed to 3.5% from 6.2%, largely due to a persistent decline in domestic capital of transport equipment (-1.1%) and a slowdown in foreign capital growth (5.2% vs 11.5%). Contruction investment growth accelerated to 7.6% from 7.1%, driven by a 6.4% rise in non-residential construction and a 8.9% increase in residential construction. In the first eight months of 2026, gross fixed investment increased 2.2% from the same period a year earlier. From the prior month, gross fixed investment fell 1.8%.

Mexico’s gross fixed investment increased 6.6% year-on-year in July 2026, easing from a 7.7% rise in June but exceeding market expectations of a 5.6% gain. This marks a fourth consecutive month of expansion, albeit at a slower pace as investment growth in the public sector slowed to 6.2% from 18.1% a month earlier. Private investment growth rose further to 6.7% from 6%. Construction investment rose 7.1%, driven by a 10.6% rise in residential construction. Investment in machinery and equipment rose 6.2%, largely due to an increase in imported capital of 11.5%. However, domestic capital in machinery and equipment declined 2.5%. On a monthly basis, gross fixed investment rose 1.4%, following a 1.3% rise in June. In the first seven months of 2026, gross fixed investment increased 1.7% from the same period a year earlier.

Mexico’s gross fixed investment rose 7.7% year-on-year in June 2026, following a 1.1% increase in May and marking the third consecutive month of growth. The result exceeded market expectations of a 4.8% expansion. Overall investment growth was driven by an 18.1% increase in public investment and a 6% rise in private investment. Construction investment climbed 9.2%, supported by a 25.8% surge in public construction, lifting non-residential construction by 11.1%. Investment in machinery and equipment rose 6%, driven by higher imports, which increased 10.2%, led by a 15.6% rise in transport equipment and a 9.3% increase in other machinery and equipment. On a monthly basis, gross fixed investment rose 1.3% after falling 0.4% in May. In the first half of 2026, gross fixed investment increased 0.8% from the same period of 2025.