The Planning Institute of Jamaica’s Review of Economic Performance,
January–March 2026
Media Brief
May 20, 2026

Before I provide the details on economic performance, let me remind you of the purpose of these quarterly economic estimates provided by the PIOJ. The PIOJ presents preliminary estimates on economic performance for each quarter, drawn from the early data and information provided by our major data sources.

This release of the preliminary estimate is consistent with trends in all modern economies globally, where it is the common practice to release a 1st, 2nd and even a 3rd preliminary estimate, before the final official figures are released. The PIOJ releases the preliminary growth estimate, approximately six weeks following the end of the quarter being reviewed. Note, however, that the targeted timeline for the press briefing is sometimes impacted by the challenges in the data collection process. STATIN releases the official GDP figures at the end of the 3rd month following the end of the quarter being reviewed.

The release of the preliminary out-turn is critical to inform the decision-making process across multiple stakeholder groups. Our International Development Partners use it to strengthen programme design; the Private Sector, uses it to guide investment strategy and manage risks; and the Government, uses the data to inform timely policy interventions.

Today, we are reporting that the Jamaican economy contracted by an estimated 5.9% during the January to March 2026 quarter, compared with the corresponding quarter of 2025. READ MORE