Fixed capital investment by companies in Mexico's construction industry during March was down 5.3%, for a fifth consecutive monthly decline, according to government statistics agency INEGI.

It was the most severe monthly slump in fixed capital investment in the construction industry since January 1996, when in the wake of the 1995-1995 financial crisis, the figure fell by 9.5% from January 1995, Mexico City daily Reforma reported. Fixed capital investment by the construction industry during the first quarter of the current year was down 3.8% from the year-ago period, INEGI said.