Overview
- The government released its Segundo Informe on Sept. 2, 2026, saying the minimum wage recovered 153% in real terms since 2019 and that Mexico’s middle class totals 42.3 million people.
- Officials highlighted trade and tourism strength, citing record merchandise exports of $664.8 billion in 2025 and more than $389 billion in exports plus 51.1 million international visitors in the first half of 2026.
- Business groups accepted wage and trade advances but warned that gross fixed investment fell to 21.2% of GDP in Q1 2026, private investment dropped to 17.9% of GDP, and only 7.8% of registered FDI flows in H1 2026 represented new projects.
- Coparmex reported that extortion and other crimes cost firms badly—one survey found roughly one in two companies were victims—which business leaders say undermines confidence needed to attract new productive projects.
- Unions praised labor gains including reduced work hours and higher pay while labor analysts cautioned that low unemployment masks large informal employment and urged wider IMSS registration and scrutiny of the 40-hour workweek’s effects on firms and productivity.