A few weeks ago, we stopped sending the free daily Mexico News Daily newsletter. We expected that to be the end of the conversation for many readers. But many of you wrote back.
The message was not, “I do not want Mexico News Daily.”
It was more like:
“I enjoy the newsletter. I am just not ready for the full subscription.”
“Can I simply pay for the daily newsletter?”
“Is Mexico actually safe—or am I being naïve?”
“I kept deleting you because I hate news, but I do think you guys do a good job at being neutral”
“At this point in my life, I want to read something that inspires me, not something that depresses me, show me how you will do that and I will reconsider?”
Fair enough. We listened.
We offer you the MND Daily Briefing: a short, thoughtful way to stay connected to Mexico each day, without committing to the full MND subscription.
It costs $2.99 per month.
Over October, we will send you a handful of stories that remind us why Mexico is worth paying attention to: stories about community, safety, culture, memory, possibility—and sometimes, a simple fact that changes how you see the country.
First, the topic everyone seems to be asking about: The Peso.
When I first came to Mexico nearly 30 years ago, the peso was around 37 to the U.S. dollar. For decades, that was the expected direction: the peso weakened, and the dollar went further.
But after 2020, something extraordinary happened.
If the peso had continued weakening at its previous pace, it could be near 37 again today. Instead, it strengthened to below 17 to the dollar—one of its strongest levels in years. It has since eased back above 17, but the bigger question remains: why has the peso stayed so much stronger than almost anyone expected?
Is it manufacturing? U.S. trade? Nearshoring? Interest rates? A weaker dollar? Or is Mexico changing in ways that are harder to explain in a single headline?
Whether you live in Mexico, visit regularly, own property here, receive income in dollars, are considering a move, or simply want to understand where Mexico is headed, the peso is not a small detail.
Reading links
Travis explains the mind-bending math behind the “37 pesos to the dollar” question—and why Mexico’s currency has defied the old rules.
Our latest data compares the real cost of a basket of goods in Mexico and Dallas, showing why the exchange rate can feel different from the prices you actually pay.
Travis and the MND team go beyond the headline: why the peso has surprised experts, what might happen next, and why nobody should pretend to know the answer with certainty.
Travis Bembenek, CEOOver the next four weeks, we will send a few more notes—about Mexico, community, safety, memory, time, and the possibility of living differently. Then we will leave the decision with you.
