KINGSTON, Jamaica — Output prices for the manufacturing industry declined 0.6 per cent in September as a result of a 4.5 per cent fall in the major group ‘refined petroleum products’.

Overall, the decline in the industry was tempered by a 0.3 per cent increase in the index for the major group ‘food, beverages and tobacco’.

This is according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), in its latest Producer Price Index released on Friday. The Institute said output prices for producers in the mining and quarrying industry increased by 0.5 per cent during the month under review.

“The upward movement in the mining and quarrying industry was attributed to a similar 0.5 per cent increase in the index for the major group ‘bauxite mining and  alumina processing’” said STATIN.

It also noted that the index for the major group, ‘other mining and quarrying’, increased by 0.1 per cent.

For the period September 2023 – September 2024, the point-to-point index for the mining and quarrying industry increased by 8.1 per cent. This was due to an increase of 8.2 per cent in the index for the major group ‘bauxite mining and alumina processing’.

STATIN said the point-to-point index for the manufacturing industry declined by 0.9 per cent over the one-year period, largely based on a 15.1 per cent fall in the major group ‘refined petroleum products’.

However, the industry’s overall decrease was moderated by a 2.9 per cent increase in the index for the major group ‘food, beverages and tobacco’.