* Mexico’s national statistics institute (Inegi) has published new data for its monthly index of industrial activity (Imai), showing that industrial activity increased 0.7% in February as compared to the previous month. Activity in the mining sector rose 4.1% and utilities (electricity generation and transmission, and the provision of water and gas) rose by 0.3%, whilst activity in the construction and manufacturing industries fell by 0.2% and 0.5% respectively. In seasonally adjusted annual terms, industrial production increased by 3.5% compared to February 2022, with mining up 7.7%, utilities up 5.1%, construction up 3.3% and manufacturing up 2.5%.