Mexico economy shrinks for first time in nearly two years

Mexico’s economy contracted 0.3 percent in the third quarter versus the previous three-month period, the first contraction in nearly two years, the national statistics agency said on Friday, after hurricanes and earthquakes pounded the country.

Third quarter gross domestic product grew 1.5 percent in annual terms compared to the same period a year earlier.

Mexico was struck by two devastating earthquakes in September and was also hit by hurricanes that affected the oil industry, putting a dent in economic activity.

This week the central bank trimmed its growth forecast for 2017 to between 1.8 and . . .