Mexico’s economy is unlikely to improve considerably through the end of 2013, suggest readings of the country’s leading economic index and coincident economic index released by The Conference Board. Slight improvement in the growth of the coincident economic index is hampered by continued widespread weakness in the leading economic index in recent months.

The Conference Board’s leading economic index for Mexico increased in both July and August, but its six-month growth continued to slow and has become more negative. It rose 0.5 percent in August and now stands at a reading of 125.1 (2004 = 100).

The index rose 0.2 percent in July after a decline of 1.5 percent in June. Over the six months ending in August, the leading economic index decreased by 2.0 percent. It fell 1.2 percent in the previous six-month period. 

The Conference Board’s coincident economic index rose 0.2 percent in August. It now stands at 123.5 (2004 = 100).