An analysis by ITESO's Business School shows Mexico's food basket cost rose 67% from August 2018 to March 2026, outpacing general inflation of 45%. In urban areas, it increased from 1,500 to 2,571 pesos per person monthly. This hike particularly impacts low-income households.
The ITESO study notes that in rural areas, the cost rose from 1,150 to 1,940 pesos monthly. In March 2026, food inflation hit 6.87% annually, against 4.59% overall. Items like tomatoes saw increases up to 126.3% in one year in rural zones.
Fuel price hikes raise logistics costs, affecting the entire supply chain. To avoid income poverty, an urban person now needs 4,940 pesos monthly, up from 3,100 in 2018; rural, 3,553 from 2,200. A city family of four requires nearly 20,000 pesos.
In the job market, Q1 2026 added 207,604 formal jobs, 8.4% fewer than last year. Mexico lost over 56,000 employer registrations since late 2023, indicating business closures or rising informality.
ITESO warns of a cycle where high prices, labor precarity, and reduced consumption feed each other, eroding purchasing power.
