MEXICO CITY Jan 27 (Reuters) - Mexico's economic growth picked up the pace in November, helped by a solid manufacturing sector and a jump in agricultural production. Economic activity MXIGAE=ECI rose 0.68 percent from October, the national statistics institute said on Thursday and was 5.83 percent MXIGDP=ECI up on a year earlier, beating analyst's expectations. Surprisingly strong growth late last year in the United States, Mexico's main trading partner, lifted local manufacturing. The finance minister said this week the economy could grow as much as 5 percent this year. [ID:nLDE70O1KC] Analysts surveyed by Reuters expected a 3.95 percent increase in economic activity year on year. (Reporting by Luis Rojas and Michael O'Boyle; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)

2011-01-27 16:09:37