The Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI) has just made available the indicators of key business activities, allowing to monitor the evolution of the Haitian economy in the second quarter (January-March) of 2014 fiscal year.

Industry :

Increase of 6.4% of the index of industrial production YoY and decrease of 5.3% compared to the previous quarter. This negative quarterly change, resulting from the different evolution of manufacturing industries. With the exception of non-metallic minerals (+5.9%) and metallurgical works (+4.6%), which showed an upward trend, other branches, such as: Textile (-10%), food (-5.3%), beverages and tobacco (-4.6%), Publishing, Printing, and rubber goods (-1.1%) experienced a decline in their production.

Electrical energy :

Increase of 2.8% for the index of production of electrical energy yoy and 5.2% compared to last quarter. This positive quarterly trend is mainly due to the increase of +13.1% of thermal generation since the production of hydroelectric sector has rather dropped (-57.0%). Invoiced consumption also showed a downward trend (-1.5%) from the previous quarter.

Construction :

Increase of 8.2% for the index of construction activity yoy and 2.1% compared to the previous quarter. This increase registered at the sector level is consistent with the increase in imports of construction materials (iron, cement...) and the number of new buildings recorded during the quarter.

Internal trade :

12% increase in the index of commercial activity yoy but down -2.6% compared to the previous quarter. This quarterly drop followed the poor performance of almost all sub sectors of the industry such as: Wholesaling of food (-4.2%), motor vehicles (-3.3%), parts accessories for motor vehicles (-3.1%) and household appliances, articles and equipment (-3.2%).

Consumer Prices :

3.3% increase in the index of consumer prices yoy and 0.9% from the previous quarter. This quarterly growth of the general level of prices is attributable to the behavior upward of all expenditure items, the most important are: Transport (+1.7%), Health (+1.7%), apparel (+1.3%), Food (+1.0%). For its part, the price index of agricultural products increases (+1.7%) year on year, but declined (-0.4%) compared to last quarter.

External trade :

Sharp decline in the index of the total value of imports (-20.1%) yoy and -14.1% compared to the previous quarter. Similarly, the index of the average value dropped -1.9% yoy and was virtually flat compared to the previous quarter with a slight increase (+0.8%) ; what contributes to a decrease in the quantum valued at 14.2% for the quarter.

HL/ HaitiLibre