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PIOJ Growth-Inducement Strategy - Planning Institute of Jamaica

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contraction in the first half <strong>of</strong> the fiscal year and a projected moderate increase in the<br />

second half <strong>of</strong> the fiscal year.<br />

During the first six months <strong>of</strong> FY2010/11, the economy contracted by 1.4 per cent with<br />

declines <strong>of</strong> 0.7 per cent for the Goods Producing and 2.0 per cent for the Services<br />

industry. Domestic demand remained weak due mainly to the prolonged adverse impact<br />

<strong>of</strong> the global economic crisis on the purchasing power <strong>of</strong> individuals. Economic activity<br />

was also constrained by: (i) the adverse impact <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Jamaica</strong> Debt Exchange<br />

programme on financial institutions; (ii) drought conditions which impacted some<br />

industries during April-June 2010; (iii) the negative effect <strong>of</strong> security operations in<br />

sections <strong>of</strong> Kingston and St. Catherine during May 2010; and (iv) the passage <strong>of</strong> Tropical<br />

Storm Nicole during the last week <strong>of</strong> September 2010.<br />

Marginal growth during the final six months <strong>of</strong> FY2010/11 will be influenced by the<br />

projected increase in real GDP for the January-March 2011 quarter as the economy is<br />

expected to contract during October –December 2010. The projected growth during<br />

January-March 2011 will represent the first quarterly increase since July-September<br />

2007. Most industries are expected to register higher value added during this final quarter<br />

<strong>of</strong> the fiscal year with the strongest expansion projected for the Mining & Quarrying<br />

industry.<br />

Manufacture<br />

For Fiscal Year 2010/2011, it is anticipated that real GDP for the Manufacture industry<br />

will decline by 2.4 per cent. This performance is predicated on declines in two main<br />

components <strong>of</strong> the industry – Food, Beverages & Tobacco (down 0.9 per cent) and Other<br />

Manufacturing (down 4.3 per cent) as it is expected that the supply and demand<br />

constraints affecting the industry are expected to persist for the last three months <strong>of</strong> FY<br />

2010/11 and as such will be unable to outweigh the declines anticipated for the first nine<br />

months <strong>of</strong> the fiscal year. Declines in the Food, Beverages & Tobacco and Other<br />

Manufacturing industries are expected to be tempered by the expansion <strong>of</strong> exports and<br />

the development <strong>of</strong> new products.<br />

Wholesale & Retail Trade; Repair and Installation <strong>of</strong> Machinery<br />

For Fiscal Year 2010/11, real value added for the Wholesale & Retail Trade industry is<br />

projected to decline by 1.2 per cent relative to the previous fiscal year. This decline is<br />

predicated on continued contractions in the domestic economic environment.<br />

Consequently, a reduction in total sales is anticipated, resulting from: (i) continued weak<br />

consumer demand for goods and services associated with reservations about future job<br />

prospects and increases in income; and (ii) a slowdown in domestic industries associated<br />

with WRTRIM, specifically the Construction and Manufacture industries and weak<br />

consumer demand. The out-turn <strong>of</strong> the industry is against the background <strong>of</strong> a weak but<br />

improving domestic macroeconomic conditions, as evidenced by: (i) increasing business<br />

confidence; (ii) expansions in loans and advances to the industry and for consumption<br />

purposes; and (iii) a higher level <strong>of</strong> remittances.<br />

75

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