The median of the projections of 13 specialists surveyed by the Reuters agency estimates an annual inflation rate of 7.80% for the National Consumer Price Index, a level similar to the advance of 7.88% in the second half of January.
The increase is well above Banxico’s inflation target of 3% +/- one percentage point.
For core inflation, considered a better parameter to measure the trajectory of prices because it eliminates the most volatile prices, it would have remained at 8.42%, from 8.46% in the previous fortnight.
In its most recent monetary policy announcement, Banxico increased the reference interest rate by 50 base points, above market expectations, citing a complex inflationary scenario and anticipated that in its next notice on March 30 it could apply an increase. of lesser magnitude.
Last week, the issuer’s deputy governor Jonathan Heath told Reuters that guidance did not imply an immovable commitment and that the final decision would depend on the evolution of economic data. Since Banco de México began its current restrictive cycle in June 2021, it has raised its rate by 700 basis points.
Only in the first 15 days of February, prices would have grown by 0.38% compared to the previous fortnight, while an increase of 0.39% is expected for the underlying index, according to the survey.
