Mexico’s unemployment rate decreased to 3.95% of the economically active population in July 2006, down 0.09% on last year, the national statistics institute INEGI said. The employment rate stood at 96.1% of the economically active population, of 43.9 million people. The largest number of people were employed in services, which accounted for 39.8% of all jobs. Trade accounted for 19.7%, manufacturing for 16.8%, agriculture for 14.3% and construction for 7.8%.
Poland grew at 5.5% in the second quarter of this year, according to the Finance Ministry. Industrial output was up 12.2% on last year, construction was up 15.7% and retail sales were up 10.5%. The ministry has revised up its full-year growth forecast from 5.0% to 5.5%.
India’s inflation stood at 4.9% in the middle of August, up 3.67% on last year. The increase in inflation is because of rising prices of food and manufactured products. Finance minister P Chidambaram said the government is trying to keep inflation below 5% during 2006 and 2007.
According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the non-performing loan ratio in the Philippines’ co-operative banks improved to 8.27% at the end of June, down from 8.57% the previous month and down 0.59% on last year. Total loan portfolio increased by 1.17% while non-performing loans contracted by 2.37% on May.