The Global Business Confidence Opinion Indicator (IGOEC), prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) , stood at 48.4 points in March 2026, marking 13 consecutive months below the threshold of 50 units , reflecting a discouraging outlook regarding business perception.
According to figures from the Monthly Business Opinion Survey (EMOE), the IGOEC fell 0.4 points in its monthly measurement , while at an annual rate it fell 0.9 units in the third month of the year.
In the reference month, two of the four industries in the Business Confidence Indicator (BCI) registered increases , with construction showing the largest increase, rising 1.3 points compared to last February, reaching a level of 47.8. Within this sector, the appropriate time to invest was the component that showed the greatest increase, rising 2.7 points on a monthly basis.
During March, the Trade Confidence Index (ICE) rose 0.1 points compared to the previous month, reaching 48.8 points. The country’s future economic outlook was the best-performing component during the period, increasing by 1.8 points month-over-month.
The ICE for manufacturing industries was 47.8 points, 0.5 units less than in February 2026. The monthly behavior of the indicator showed declines in its five components, with the most favorable time to invest being the largest decline (0.7 points).
Meanwhile, the ICE for private non-financial services fell 0.9 points in March 2026 compared to February, settling at 48.5 points. The only component with positive performance was the ” opportune time to invest ,” registering a 0.5-point increase month-over-month.
All four IGOEC indicators fell below the 50-point threshold, reflecting pessimism in business confidence during the cycle, in a global economic environment where uncertainty still prevails, stemming from unilateral trade decisions and geopolitical tensions such as those in the Middle East.
According to Inegi, the IGOEC and the ICE present the opinion of business executives on the economic situation of the country and their companies, so knowing the level of confidence of businessmen influences the perception of integrity and ability of a company to meet its objectives, as well as the decision to invest.
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