Mexico and Guatemala see sharp rise in government debt

Mexico's federal debt has more than doubled over the past eight years, reaching 17.849 trillion pesos by June. The debt is now 84.6% denominated in pesos, with the broader public‑debt measure hitting about 19 trillion pesos, pushing the debt‑to‑GDP ratio to roughly 49.4%.

In Guatemala, a report reveals a hidden liability of Q110 billion (about US$14.5 billion) owed to the Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social and the Banco de Guatemala that is omitted from official figures. Including this debt raises the country's debt‑to‑GDP ratio from 27% to 38% and its debt‑to‑revenue ratio from 218% to 313%, suggesting a far higher fiscal burden than reported.