By Eliane Portillo

In September business investment in machinery and equipment showed slowing signs. According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, after growing at an annual rate of 10.6% in August, in September it grew at an annual rate of 6.8%.

Unlike the most recent reports, annual growth in September was below the cumulative growth over the first nine months (8.7%).  This weakness in investment in machinery and equipment suggests that companies are beginning to perceive a lower expectation of dynamic economic activity and thus eased the acquisition of machinery and equipment.

INEGI reported that the acquisition of machinery and equipment grew 9.1% annual in September, while investment by construction firms rose 5.3% annual.

Capital goods imports slowed in the 3Q11, which fell in average -2.1% in the 3Q11, compared with growth of 2.1% observed in the previous second quarter forecasts.

According to forecasts of private consulting CAPEM, during the last quarter of the year there will be a slowdown in gross fixed investment, which will grow at an average of 5.9%, below 8.7% accumulated from January to September.

In general, financial institutions’ analysts agree in a scenario of lower dynamic for business investment at the end of 2012.