Sheinbaum to implement fiscal consolidation in order to retain investment grade status

The impact of the change of government on Mexico’s macroeconomic indicators is expected to be limited, with the administration led by Claudia Sheinbaum projected to carry out a gradual fiscal consolidation to prevent a loss of investment grade from risk rating agencies. Citibanamex presented an analysis of the country’s financial situation at the end of the second quarter, noting that uncertainty and increased risks of negative scenarios could lead to a deterioration of financial variables, impacting investment, growth, and public finances.

Although Mexico will experience a modest macroeconomic impact, the room for maneuver to achieve fiscal consolidation is already narrow and is predicted to narrow further, according to the analysis. Revenues increased by 2.4 percent in real terms between January and April but were 4 billion pesos below the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit’s budget, mainly due to lower oil revenues and below-anticipated tax collection. Public spending rose by 18.8 percent in real terms in the first quarter, the highest since 1990, comparable only to the fiscal policy measures taken during the 2009 global financial crisis.

The new macroeconomic scenario will have slight impacts on public deficit estimates, as the negative effects of lower growth and higher interest rates are mostly balanced by those of a more depreciated exchange rate. The analysis also predicts pressures on the stability of public finances in 2024 and 2025.