Among the many informative dynamics that the morning conference of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador possesses, I have always found it particularly interesting and informative for the public debate, that of the economic balance which preferably takes place on Thursdays, although he sometimes postpones it or transfers it to Friday as in the most recent case, May 12.

With very eloquent, illustrative and careful graphs in the temporal references, the president exposes every Thursday the behavior of the main socio-economic indicators and shares the causes behind each parameter. present your narrativepolitical history whose mission is to render accounts to all Mexicans on a daily basis, in particular to those who voted for its project of change and incidentally also to those who criticize the system, hoping to provide them with concrete data that make account of progress, growth and progress, reflected in the most important official indicators.

This is a substantial summary of the indicators that the President shared with us, their comparison over time and the respective explanation. The government of the 4Ts in figures and analyzed in a comparative perspective:

Job. The jobs registered in the IMSS in April 2023 are 21,820,291. In total we are talking about 1,206,755 more than in February 2020, before the pandemic was officially decreed on March 11 of the same year, while the universe of employees was 20,613,536.

Unemployment. In the first quarter of 2023, the Mexican unemployment rate is 2.8%, the lowest level in 15 years. Only Japan (2.6) and South Korea (2.7) have a lower figure. In this area, Mexico has a better indicator than many large economies: United States (3.5), Australia (3.6), Canada (5), France (7), Italy (7.9), Colombia (10.7) and Spain (12.9).

Debt. The net debt in the first quarter of the fifth year of the government is 14 trillion pesos, with a percentage increase compared to the beginning of the current government of 32.6%. With President Peña Nieto the increase over the same period was 56.6%, with President Calderón 53.3% and with Vicente Fox 40.3%.

Trade. Mexico has just entered as the main trading partner of the United States. The percentage of total US trade with Mexico is 16.1%, followed by Canada with 15.5%, China with 10.1%, Germany 4.8% and Japan 4, 4%.

GDP 2022. Against many bad omens, Mexico grew by 3.1% last year, a figure higher than that of the United States (2.6), Brazil (2.9), Chile (2.5) , Japan (1%) and Germany (1.9%).

Discounts. So far this year, remittances continue to establish an upward trend. Last year there was a total of 58.510 million dollars, and in the first quarter of this year they already amount to almost 19,000 million. In January they increased by 12% compared to the same month last year, in February by 11%, in March by the same 11% and in April by 7%.

Reservations. The Bank of Mexico’s international reserves have long since exceeded the “psychological barrier” of $200 billion, currently standing at 203,510.2 million, an increase of 17.1% so far over the six-month period. Very far from the weak 5 billion which in December 1994 could not serve as containment to prevent capital flight, devaluation and the economic crisis (the so-called “December error”).

Minimum wage. The daily minimum wage has seen an unprecedented increase over the past thirty years, during which time the official policy was to offset only the inflationary impact each year. Over the current sexennium, the increase in purchasing power compared to 2018 is 88%. In 2018, the official minimum wage was 114.8 pesos and is currently 207.4 pesos.

formal average salary. The registration of the average formal salary before the Mexican Institute of Social Security has increased considerably, being currently, for April 2023, 16,035 pesos per month.

Exchange rate. The Mexican peso is one of the currencies that has appreciated the most against the dollar over the past five years, 13.7%, followed only by the Swiss franc with 10.4%. The rest of the major currencies lost value against the dollar: the euro -3.7%, the Indian rupee -18%, the Japanese yen -18.5, the Brazilian real -27.6% and the ruble Russian -77.2%.

It should be noted that this appreciation of 13.7%, recorded during the 53 months and 11 days of the government of President López Obrador, also contrasts with the inertial depreciation that has been recorded every six years. With Peña Nieto it was -45.3%, with Felipe Calderón -6.1%, Vicente Fox -16.8%, Ernesto Zedillo -169.6%, Carlos Salinas -37.4% and Miguel de la Madrid -2,298.4% (they read that right).

According to interests, these official data can be celebrated or criticized, but they constitute a hard and uncontroversial x-ray of the most relevant results of President López Obrador. Excellent material for analysis and, above all, for confirming the vision of Mexico as a country of opportunities, with enormous growth potential and qualities that few countries can boast of: privileged geographical location, abundant natural resources and human capital of first order.

Excellent start to the week.