The Conference Board's leading economic index for Mexico now stands at 147.5 (1990=100), having risen three-tenths of a percentage point in March, the most recent month for which data are available. However, in recent months the index's growth rate has slowed to an annual rate of 1% to 3%, "well below the peak growth rate in late 2003 and early 2004, and the strength among the leading indicators has become less widespread," says the New York-based business research group.
"The slower growth rate of the leading index in recent months suggests that economic growth will continue in the near term, but at a slower rate than in 2004."
