The economy is said to have recorded growth of around 1.9% last year against a projection of 2.8% and inflation or the increase in overall price levels was reported to be 2.5% for that period. Projected inflation for 2001 was six per cent compared to the 5.9% rate registered in 2000.

The computation of figures on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was not completed by Friday last but is expected to be ready now that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is in Guyana to complete talks on a new three-year programme.

Agriculture output for 2001 improved on the 2000 position, but did not touch the 1999 levels.

Sugar production increased by 10,774 tonnes or 3.9% to reach 284,447 metric tonnes at the end of 2001, whilst rice output improved by 10.4% to reach 322,310 metric tonnes. Sugar and rice production had declined by 15% and 20.1% in 2000.

Egg production in the agri-sub sector fell by 14.6% against the improvement of 17.1% the previous year to reach 25.6 million units. Poultry meat production, which had declined by 5.3% in 2000, improved by 6.1% last year to reach 12.4 million kilogrammes.

Forestry output was not recorded in the figures made available by the Bureau of Statistics nor was that of the fish sub sector.

The mining sector saw mixed results, with diamond production declared increasing by 119.6% to reach 184,308.9 carats. Bauxite, which was not fully recorded, saw a decline of 25.7% with the recorded output for 2001 being two million tons. Raw gold declaration increased by 4.8% to reach 14,181 kg. The mining sector last year had grown overall by 5.9%.

Sand declaration declined by 7.1% to 220,560.9 tonnes, whilst crushed stones declared saw a marginal drop of 1.8% to 106,960.6 metric tonnes.

Pharmaceuticals output declined generally with total liquid production dropping by 33.7% to 232,041.1 litres and tablets declining by 16.3% to 6.9 million units. The output of ointments increased by four per cent.

The manufacturing sector experienced mixed results with the garment sub sector rebounding after a 24.3% shortfall in 2000. Garment output increased by 30.6% whilst footwear recorded a 20.3% jump. Textile production recommenced and reached 83,647 metres at the end of 2001.

The industrial goods sector also recorded mixed output with no refrigerators or stoves being produced in 2001. Three refrigerators and 83 stoves were produced in 2000.

Laundry soap production fell to 95,885 kg, a 27.9% decline, whilst stockfeed saw a marginal increase of one per cent to 31,939 tonnes. Corrugated carton production fell by 92,000 square metres from 4,232,000 square metres the year before. The production of sanitary napkins increased by 11.8% to reach 4,734 sacks whilst neutral alcohol also saw a marginal increase in litre per alcohol (lpa) from 4.7 million lpa to 4.8 million lpa.

Detergent output increased by 26.3% to reach 195,027 kg. Paints decreased marginally from 1.85 million litres to 1.81 million litres. Putty production rose from 298,016.8 kg to 310,822.4 kg.

Liquid nitrogen output declined from 5,488 litres to 3,581 litres and heart of palm production increased from 1.2 million kg to 1.5 million kg. Industrial flour output declined from 1,168.1 tonnes to 977.5 tonnes.

Beverages showed mixed results with rum production increasing by 43.8%. But beer and milk stout production declined by ten per cent to 10.6 million litres. Malta output dropped by 7.8% and Guinness production rose by ten per cent to reach 1.3 million litres. Wine output increased by 18.7% to reach 66,898 cases and shandy output fell by 22.2% to 65,793 cases. Vita Malt production was 54,514 litres.

Total output of aerated drinks dropped from 38.3 million litres to 35.8 litres, whilst mineral/distilled water increased from 8.5 million litres to 10.6 million litres.

In the case of edible items, snack foods production declined marginally from 40,647 kg to 40,083 kg, whilst biscuits output increased marginally from 1.45 million kg to 1.46 million kg.

Cereal output increased by ten per cent to reach 99,948.3 kg, while there was a decline in bread output from 1.17 million kg to 1.12 million kg. Edible oil output increased from 1.2 million litres to 1.3 million litres. Pasta production declined from 1.5 million kg to 1.3 million kg and the production of sweets declined from 318,340 kg to 247,932 kg. Vinegar output increased by 7,817 litres to 148,967 litres.