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- Economy
-
- Overview: The economy is primarily service oriented, with
- tourism the most important determinant of economic performance.
- During the period 1983-87, real GDP expanded at an annual
- average rate of 8%. Tourism's contribution to GDP, as measured
- by value added in hotels and restaurants, rose from about
- 14% in 1983 to 17% in 1987, and stimulated growth in other
- sectors--particularly in construction, communications, and
- public utilities. During the same period the combined share
- of agriculture and manufacturing declined from 12% to less
- than 10%. Antigua and Barbuda is one of the few areas in
- the Caribbean experiencing a labor shortage in some sectors
- of the economy.
-
- GDP: $353.5 million, per capita $5,550; real growth rate 6.2%
- (1989 est.).
-
- Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.1% (1988 est.).
-
- Unemployment rate: 5.0% (1988 est.).
-
- Budget: revenues $77 million; expenditures $81 million,
- including capital expenditures of $13 million (1988 est.).
-
- Exports: $30.4 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities--petroleum
- products 46%, manufactures 29%, food and live animals 14%,
- machinery and transport equipment 11%; partners--Trinidad
- and Tobago 40%, Barbados 8%, US 0.3%.
-
- Imports: $302.1 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities--food
- and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures,
- chemicals, oil; partners--US 27%, UK 14%, CARICOM 7%, Canada 4%,
- other 48%.
-
- External debt: $245.4 million (1987).
-
- Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1987).
-
- Electricity: 49,000 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced,
- 1,410 kWh per capita (1989).
-
- Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing,
- alcohol, household appliances).
-
- Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP; expanding output of cotton,
- fruits, vegetables, and livestock sector; other crops--bananas,
- coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes; not self-sufficient in food.
-
- Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
- (1970-87), $40 million.
-
- Currency: East Caribbean dollar (plural--dollars); 1 EC
- dollar (EC$) = 100 cents.
-
- Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1--2.70
- (fixed rate since 1976).
-
- Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March.
-