The Statistical Department of the Ministry of Finance, through the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Information (IHSI) has made available a paper on the evolution of key indicators making it possible to follow the real sector of the economy. The analyzed quarter January-March 2015, of the fiscal year 2014-2015 appears significantly worse than the previous quarter.

INDUSTRY :

Increase of +5.8% of the index of industrial production YoY but down -7.5% from the previous quarter. This negative quarterly variation results from contrasting trends of different industries. The food manufacturing (-10.6%), beverages and tobacco (-8.7%), textile (-3.9%), wood products, paper, printing and chemical products (-8.4%) were down. By cons, non-metallic mineral manufacturing (+2.2%) and metallurgical works (+1.4%) showed a positive trend.

ENERGY :

Decrease of -6.6% yoy in the index of production of electrical energy and a "relative increase" of +4.4% compared to the prior quarter. This positive variation of the quarter, is mainly due to the increase in the production of thermal energy (+5.4%), since the hydroelectric dropped -9.6%. The invoiced consumption, for its part, showed a downtrend -36.8% compared to the previous quarter.

CONSTRUCTION :

+5.1% increase in the index of construction activity YoY and -3.8% reduction from the previous quarter. This recorded decreasea at sector level is consistent with a decline in the number of new construction recorded during the quarter.

INTERNAL TRADE :

Increase of +7.9% of the index of commercial activity yoy but down -8.0% from the previous quarter. This quarterly decline in nominal value is due to a con performance of certain sub-sectors such as: food beverages and tobacco shops (-12.2%), motor vehicles (-7.0%), textiles, clothing and footwear (-0.7%), articles and household appliances equipment (-7.9%) and building materials and equipment (-5.4%). While other branches have rather moved higher.

CONSUMER PRICES :

+6.5% increase in the price index for consumption yoy and + 1.3% from the previous quarter. This quarterly increase is due to increased various consumption functions whose the most important are: food (+ 1.7%), health (+ 0.8%), other goods and services (+ 2.5%) and clothing (+ 2.5%). Moreover, the index of agricultural prices, meanwhile, rose by +8.2% YoY and +1.0% from last quarter.

FOREIGN TRADE :

Decline in the index of the average value of imports by 3.6% yoy and 2.0% compared to last quarter. For its part, the index of total value has risen by 6.8% yoy and declined by 16.5% from the previous quarter, resulting in an increase in the quantum of 10.7% yoy and a net decline 14.7% in the quarter.

HL/ HaitiLibre