Latinnews Daily - 30 April 2007

CHILE: The fiscal surplus totalled 2.4% of gross domestic product in the first quarter, or Ch$5.98tr (US$11.3bn).

COLOMBIA: Colombia posted a US$597.6m trade deficit in January to February 2007, versus a surplus of US$258.2m in the year-ago period. Exports rose 2.3% year-on-year to US$1.9bn in February.

MEXICO: The number of people employed in the manufacturing sector increased 1.1% year-on-year in February.

URUGUAY: The unemployment rate rose to 10.2% in February from 9.7% the previous month, according to the national statistics institute.