Retail Crisis? Jalisco Shows Resilience with Record-High Wages

The state of Jalisco exhibited a mixed performance in the commercial sector during February 2026, combining a monthly contraction in revenue with sustained growth in employment and remunerations, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Data from the Monthly Survey on Commercial Enterprises (EMEC) reflects a short-term adjustment in commercial activity, in line with a more moderate national economic environment, albeit with still solid fundamentals in domestic consumption.

Short-Term Revenue Decline

Nationally, both wholesale and retail trade registered monthly revenue declines during February 2026. In the retail segment*—key for measuring household consumption—* revenues decreased by 0.9% compared to January. However, on an annual basis, the outlook is different: retail sales grew by 3.2%, demonstrating resilience in domestic demand.

Jalisco: Employment and Wages Above Average

Specifically for Jalisco, annual indicators show a competitive performance compared to the national context:

• Retail Revenues: +3.1% annually, in line with the national average
• Occupied Personnel: +1.2%, exceeding the national 1.0%
• Average Remunerations: +6.9%, surpassing the national 5.5%

This performance positions the entity as one of the most dynamic markets in terms of employment and wage improvement within the retail sector, suggesting a relatively solid consumer base.

In wholesale trade, performance was more moderate:

• Revenues: +0.2% annually
• Occupied Personnel: +0.2%
• Remunerations: +0.6%

Labor Cost Pressure and Operational Adjustment in Jalisco

Despite the annual growth in wages —especially in retail trade—, the monthly indicator shows signs of adjustment: remunerations in this segment fell by 0.3% compared to the previous month. This behavior suggests that businesses might be making operational adjustments in response to cost pressures and a slowdown in revenue growth.

Outlook: Balancing Growth and Caution in Jalisco

Jalisco’s performance in February reflects a balance between structural dynamism and cyclical adjustments. Growth in employment and wages suggests confidence in the domestic market, but the monthly decline in revenues points to a for commercial enterprises. In this context, consumer evolution in the coming months will be conditioned by factors such as inflation, purchasing power, and financial conditions.

This article originally appeared in Líder Empresarial.