Mexico's Ciudad Juárez Inflation Slows to 2.6% as Job Losses Persist

Inflation in Ciudad Juárez eased to 2.6% in the first half of July, according to the latest INEGI report, staying below the national average of 3.1%. The rise represents a modest increase of three‑tenths of a percentage point from 2.3% at the end of June.

Isaac Leobardo Sánchez Juárez, director of the Economic Laboratory at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, said the slowdown could signal the start of an economic recovery in the second half of the year, projecting national growth of 1.8‑2.0% by the end of 2026. However, the region continues to face significant employment challenges, with the IMSS reporting a loss of 40,000 formal jobs and the manufacturing sector shedding over 75,000 positions in the past 35 months.

Analysts attribute the lower inflation rate partly to reduced local consumption, linked to the weakened labor market. While prices are still rising, the pace is far slower than the 10% inflation seen in August 2022 during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Specific categories such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco registered a 7.8% price increase.