KINGSTON, Jamaica, Apr 1, CMC – The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) says the local economy grew in the first three quarters of last year, registering an increase of 5.1 per cent for the July to September quarter.
STATIN’s Director General, Leesha Delatie-Budair, said that for the first two quarters of last year, the economy grew by 1.1 per cent, and 1.7 per cent, respectively.
She said that for the fourth quarter of last year, the economy contracted by 7.1 per cent as a result of the US$8.8-billion damage caused by Hurricane Melisssa when it hit the island on October 28.
Delatie-Budair said that the impact of the storm was evident in both the goods producing and services industries.
“The goods producing industries declined by 10.7 per cent, and this was largely attributed to declines in agriculture, forestry and fishing, which contracted by 17.7 per cent. The services industries contracted by 5.9 per cent. We saw all services industries recording a decline except for finance and insurance and the public administration and defence,” she said.
The Director General said that accommodation and food service activities contributed the largest to the decline.
“This industry fell by 31 per cent and accounted for 42.4 per cent of the overall decline in the services industries,” she explained.
Other notable declines included electricity, water and waste management, which fell by 11.7 per cent, and wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, installation of machinery and equipment, which fell by 2.2 per cent.
CMC/af/ir/2026