Global economic and industrial trends

Global economic indicators in mid-2026 show varied trends in industrial production and inflation across several regions.

In North America, the United States experienced rising bond yields following proposals for citizen checks, and the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August, bringing the annual rate to 3.4%. This has prompted speculation regarding potential interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. In Mexico, industrial activity grew by 0.4% during the first seven months of 2026, with July showing signs of recovery in both industrial production and manufacturing.

In Europe, French industrial production fell by 0.4% in July, missing expectations, while Deutsche Bank predicted UK inflation would exceed forecasts due to gasoline prices.

In South America, Argentina reported a slowdown in inflation to 1.7% in August, which INDEC noted is the lowest level in 14 months. Despite this deceleration, the country remains the second highest in Latin America for monthly inflation, trailing only Venezuela, with year-to-date inflation reaching 21.3%. Economic indicators in Argentina remain mixed; nine regional sectors, including citrus, forestry, wine, and milk, reported negative indicators in July due to stagnant producer prices and rising operating costs. Manufacturing and construction have shown signs of deterioration, with contractions in sub-sectors such as textiles and electrical appliances. Uruguay introduced the ‘Plan Industrial Uruguay’ to address the declining weight of manufacturing in its national product.

In Asia, China’s GDP growth is forecasted at 4.5% for 2026, while Taiwan reported significant export growth of 41.0% in August, driven by the artificial intelligence sector.