Another problem solved?

The price is creeping up again, but we can thank the slow economy cutting gasoline prices 40 percent from what they were a year ago.

We can also thank the slow economy for putting the brakes on another problem: Illegal immigration.

According to Mexican census data, about 226,000 fewer people have emigrated from Mexico to other countries in the year that ended in August 2008 than the previous year, a 25 percent decline.

That includes both legal and illegal immigration, and the vast majority of it is to the United States.

It's an example of the pure economics of supply and demand. With little demand for the type of labor illegal immigrants provide, the supply drops off.

Perhaps we can keep an eye on illegal immigration for signs that the economy is recovering.