QUARTERLY GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
First Quarter
January – March 2005

The Gross Domestic Product for the first quarter of 2005, recently released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica showed that the Jamaican economy grew by 2.1 percent in the first quarter of 2005 when compared to the fourth quarter of 2004. There was growth in both the Productive and the Services Sector. All sectors except for Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Finance and Insurance Services and Producers’ of Government Services recorded improved performance during the quarter.

When compared to the March quarter of 2004 however, the economy declined marginally by 0.1 percent. The Productive Sector declined 3.4, influenced by lower output levels in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing and Manufacturing.

The Services Sector grew by 1.8 percent reflecting increased output in all sectors except for Finance and Insurance Services.

The Quarterly Gross Domestic Product January – March 2005 further outlines additional information and may be obtained from our distribution office of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, 7 Cecelio Avenue, Kingston 10.