SIB Report: Imports Down in November

The Statistical Institute of Belize has released the latest figures in three categories, including the External Trade Bulletin, the Consumer Price Index, as well as the Labor Force.  This information is relative to November.  Total imports last month were valued at a little over one hundred and fifty-four million dollars, which represents a decrease of roughly thirteen million dollars from 2016.  The Mineral Fuels and Lubricants category fell from sixteen point nine million dollars last year to approximately thirteen million dollars in November 2017, because no diesel fuel was imported last month.  The largest cutback for the month however, was in the Machinery and Transport Equipment category. In November 2016, purchases of computer components and a one-off acquisition of dredging equipment amounted to just under forty million dollars in imports.  This year, the bringing in of computer parts fell by six point one million dollars.  Exports were also down in November, sliding from nineteen point one million dollars in 2016 to sixteen point nine million dollars for the same period this year.  The Consumer Price Index for November indicates that the average Belizean household saw a mean increase of about one percent in the cost of regularly purchased goods and services.  The price per gallon of premium gasoline rose nineteen percent over the last twelve months, peaking at twelve dollars and two cents in November.  The cost of diesel went up by seventy-one cents per gallon.  Punta Gorda recorded the highest overall increase in consumer prices, with an inflation rate of one point nine percent.