Country’s GDP up by $10+ billion

Country’s GDP up by $10+ billion

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) experienced marked growth in 2018, when compared to the same period reviewed in 2017, according to statisticians within the Department of Statistics.

According to a recent report released by the Department of Statistics, the country’s GDP increased by an estimated $10.7 billion dollars.

The National Accounts Section of the Department of Statistics revealed that the multi-billion-dollar increase represents a 1.6 per cent growth.

There are 17 groups which are said to contribute to annual GDP statistics, Terah Newbold, Supervisor, National Accounts Section noted.

The 17 groups are:

  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing
  • Mining and Quarrying
  • Manufacturing
  • Electricity and gas, Water supply and sewerage
  • Construction
  • Wholesale and Retail Trade, Motor Vehicle repairs
  • Transport and Storage
  • Accommodation and Food Services
  • Information and Communication
  • Financial and Insurance activities
  • Real Estate Activities
  • Professional, scientific and technical services
  • Administrative and supportive services
  • Public administration and defense, Social security
  • Education
  • Human Health and social work
  • Arts, Other Services, Household Employment, Extraterritorial org.

Of the 17 groups, nine of them contributed to the overall increase in GDP, according to Newbold.

According to Newbold, of the nine leading contributors, the report indicates that the real estate industry group increased by $16 million dollars, wholesale and retail trade grew by $43 million dollars, accommodations and food services industry showed a combined increase of $253 million dollars while the financial and insurance sector grew by $42 million dollars.

Newbold said the positive growth between 2017 and 2018 is good news for the country’s economy.

“An increase indicates that the economy is better than it was recorded in 2017,” she said.

Newbold said the growth is encouraging; especially on the heels of a financial snapshot released by the Ministry of Finance late last month which indicated that the national deficit has seen a marked decline.

While government expects the national deficit to continue with a steady decline, Newbold said she cautious with predicting a continued growth in GDP considering that anything could shift the scale.

“Anything can cause the economy to increase or decrease; but, it is the job of the National Accounts Section to calculate the numbers as they come in. We cannot predict what will come in,” she said.

The 2018 GDP figures in the National Accounts Report will be available on the department’s website on or before June 13.

 

About Theo Sealy

Theo Sealy is an award-winning journalist who serves as senior broadcast reporter and weekend TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. He has achieved several career milestones, including his work as a field contributor with CNN, his coverage of four consecutive general elections, his production of several docuseries and his Bahamas Press Club Awards win for “Best Television News Story” in 2018.

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