La Jornada: Sheinbaum refutes negative view of rating agencies

When confronting the vision of international rating agencies regarding the economic performance in Mexico that sows the idea that it is going very badly, President Claudia Sheinbaum presented a set of variables that reflect, she said, the direction of our economy. Among them, the record recorded during the first quarter of 2026 in foreign direct investment and the decrease in the public deficit by 1.5 percent during 2025 stood out.

During her conference, the president also pointed out that according to Inegi data, unemployment in Mexico was at 2.5 percent, placing the country among the first three places worldwide in this area. He also highlighted that the 154 percent increase in the minimum wage has allowed, among other aspects, to reduce working poverty.

According to the data on the behavior of the latter, during the six-year term of Felipe Calderón it was at 42.7 percent; with Enrique Peña Nieto it dropped to 40.7; During the six-year term of López Obrador it decreased to 35 percent and in this government it was reduced even more to stand at 30.7.

Noting that the economy has maintained itself even in an adverse international environment due to the war in the Middle East and the increase in the price of oil that has brought many problems to world trade, he highlighted that the Mexican peso remains stable at 17.40 per dollar; Inflation has been reduced due to measures to control the price of the basic basket and fuel.

He stated that in 2025 the deficit decreased by 1.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and the collection increased from 14.7 to 15.2 percent of the GDP; The debt of the public sector’s financial requirements stood at 50.3 percent at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

Sheinbaum reported that a record was recorded in Mexican exports and the trade balance has been positive during the first quarter of 2026. Pemex reduced its debt by $20 billion, which allowed it to improve its credit rating.

Finally, he explained that the legal reform to favor mixed public-private investments, as well as the establishment of the single window aimed at reducing the procedures for opening investments will be reflected in the second half of the year.