Mexico's 2012 Budget Seeks to Raise Spending

Mexican President Felipe Calderon, whose nonrenewable 6 yr. term will end in November 2012, submitted to Congress this Thursday his 2012 budget proposal. This new proposal shows that the government is looking for a smaller deficit with more spending compared with the 2011 budget. The spending plan, which will only exclude investment in state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, calls for a deficit of 36.7 billion pesos ($2.94 billion), equivalent to 0.2% of gross domestic product, compared with a deficit of 0.5% for this year. Oil income is expected to rise 5.8% from projections for 2011, while non-oil income is seen growing by 1.7% next year. Including Pemex investment, the deficit is expected to be 2.2% of GDP, an improvement from the 2.5 percent number for this year. The federal government would maintain Mexico investment levels in Pemex at 2% of GDP. Calderón explained that the new budget includes continued support for small and medium businesses, as well as investment to build, repair or upgrade 1,280 kilometers of roads and highways, he said.