Mexico analysts see slightly higher inflation, lower growth in 2026

          MEXICO CITY, May 4 (Reuters) - Private sector analysts polled by Mexico's central bank slightly raised their forecast for headline inflation this year, while trimming their economic growth estimate, the bank said on Monday.
    They now expect annual headline inflation of 4.38%, up from 4.21% previously. For 2026, analysts see gross domestic product growth growing just 1.38%, a slight downgrade from last month's forecast of 1.49%.
    Analysts see the Bank of Mexico making one more 25 basis point cut to the country's benchmark interest rate through the end of next year.
                            March               April
 Inflation, end year
 pct
 2026                        4.21               4.38
 2027                        3.80               3.80
 Core inflation, end
 year
 2026                        4.20               4.19
 2027                        3.75               3.80
 Economic growth,
 annual pct
 2026                        1.49               1.38
 2027                        1.82               1.88
 Peso-dollar rate, end
 yr
 2026                       18.10               18.00
 2027                       18.60               18.51
 Interbank lending
 rate
 2026                        6.50               6.50
 2027                        6.50               6.50
    The survey of 43 analysts was taken between April 20-28. The values shown are medians.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by I?igo Alexander )