GDP falls by 7.1 per cent during Melissa quarter - STATIN

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) says the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the period October to December 2025 fell by 7.1 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024, which confirmed the negative effect of Hurricane Melissa on economic activity.

The value of the goods producing industries fell by 10.7 per cent during the quarter compared to the last quarter of 2024, while the services industries fell by 5.9 per cent during the corresponding period.

STATIN released the findings at its quarterly media briefing at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew on Tuesday.

The output of the various industries reflected the impact of the Category 5 hurricane, which devastated the island on October 28 last year.

Among the goods producing industries, Mining and Quarrying output was down 37.5 per cent, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing down 17.7 per cent, while Manufacturing declined by 8.1 per cent.

Meanwhile among the services industries Accommodation, Food and Services Activities plummeted 31 per cent, Information and Communication declined by 12.6 per cent, and the output of Electricity, Water Supply and Waste Management was down 11.7 per cent.

GDP measures the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country over a specific period, and is widely used to measure the health of an economy.

Luke.douglas@gleanerjm.com

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