Mexican Economy: CFE Strengthens, Gold Hits Record, but Slowdown Alert Persists

Recent economic data paint a complex picture:

Energy Sector : The federal government has projected an investment of $22 billion to strengthen the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) as a public company and combat consumer fraud.
International Reserves : Gold reserves held by the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) reached an unprecedented level, approaching $11 billion, possibly as a diversification and hedging strategy.
Worrying Indicators : Inflation rose slightly to 3.96% in the first half of April. The Center for Economic Studies of the Private Sector (CEESP) warned of an economic slowdown, and reported weakness in consumption, investment, and production at the beginning of the year.

State strengthening and record reserves contrast with signs of a cooling real economy.