The Mexican
economy, Latin America's second-largest after Brazil's, tumbled into recession in the first half of this year and has since remained stagnant, according to revised official data released Monday.
The downward revision confirmed the economy's weak performance under leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has struggled to deliver on his promise to kickstart growth since taking office in December 2018.
The news will again put Lopez Obrador's government on the defensive, as it confirms the recession -- defined as two or more consecutive quarters of contraction -- began in the first half of the year.