Territorial Economic Accounts for American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

New Estimates of GDP for 2018, New Estimates of GDP by Industry and Compensation by Industry for 2017

By Christina D. Hovland-Battikha, Amy K. Filipek, and Sabrina L. Montes  |  Volume 100, Number 2  |  February 19, 2020

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In collaboration with the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) and with staff from the territorial governments, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) produces annual economic accounts for American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The OIA provides funding for the work and facilitates interactions between BEA and the territorial governments.1

The purpose of this ongoing project is to provide data users with comprehensive, objective measures of economic activity for these four U.S. territories. Consistent measures of economic activity are critical for understanding the territorial economies and how they have developed over time. Without such measures, it is difficult for businesses and governments to make informed economic and financial planning decisions and for policymakers to assess the impacts of their decisions on growth. For the United States, BEA produces gross domestic product (GDP) and other related economic measures as part of its National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs); however, these estimates cover only the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Transactions with the territories are classified as transactions with the “rest-of-the-world.”

This year, BEA released new estimates of GDP for 2018 and revised estimates for 2013–2017.2 These estimates are shown in chart 1. For comparison, real GDP growth for the United States (excluding the territories) is also shown.

Chart 1. Percent Change From Preceding Year in Real GDP, 2008–2018. Bar Chart.

[Click chart to expand]

Highlights of the latest GDP estimates for each territory are described below.

American Samoa

Real GDP increased 2.2 percent in 2018 (table A.1.3).

  • The growth in the American Samoa economy reflected increases in private fixed investment and exports of goods (table A.1.4).
  • Private fixed investment increased, largely due to reconstruction and major repairs of homes and businesses following Tropical Cyclone Gita, which made landfall in American Samoa in February 2018.
  • Exports of canned tuna and related products increased in 2018, reflecting expanded production of American Samoa’s tuna canning industry.
Table A.1.1. Gross Domestic Product, American Samoa
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 520 563 678 576 574 644 641 642 661 652 602 636
Personal consumption expenditures 383 407 398 402 414 424 447 455 443 446 459 472
Goods 195 208 196 197 188 189 214 217 207 203 207 215
Durable goods 23 27 24 25 23 23 29 35 31 30 26 28
Nondurable goods 171 181 172 172 166 167 185 183 177 174 181 187
Services 189 202 207 211 229 242 242 248 246 252 260 265
Net foreign travel −1 −3 −5 −5 −4 −6 −10 −11 −10 −9 −8 −8
Private fixed investment 41 46 38 49 51 53 60 66 53 50 51 57
Change in private inventories −8 −17 −6 −5 −3 0 5 31 24 44 37 −12
Net exports of goods and services −116 −113 −26 −174 −225 −161 −184 −252 −231 −208 −254 −194
Exports 505 641 530 364 335 482 457 426 427 427 362 438
Goods 487 621 510 341 313 456 433 400 401 401 336 410
Services 17 20 20 22 22 26 25 26 26 26 26 28
Imports 621 754 556 537 559 643 641 679 658 635 616 632
Goods 571 698 508 489 509 588 587 616 594 573 554 573
Services 50 56 49 48 50 55 54 63 64 62 62 59
Government consumption expenditures and gross investment 220 241 275 304 337 329 313 343 371 321 308 314
Federal 17 20 30 22 23 22 21 24 26 26 26 24
Territorial 203 220 244 281 314 306 291 319 345 294 282 289

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Table A.1.2. Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars, American Samoa
[Millions of chained (2009) dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product (GDP) 727 708 678 681 683 653 635 641 650 632 595 608
Personal consumption expenditures 420 410 398 381 364 357 369 372 371 375 375 376
Goods 216 212 196 187 170 165 183 185 178 175 172 174
Durable goods 27 27 24 24 21 19 25 29 25 25 22 23
Nondurable goods 190 185 172 163 149 146 158 156 152 151 150 151
Services 207 202 207 200 198 197 195 196 201 206 208 207
Net foreign travel −3 −4 −5 −6 −4 −6 −8 −9 −8 −7 −5 −5
Private fixed investment 40 45 38 50 52 51 55 59 47 43 43 47
Change in private inventories −7 −11 −6 −4 −2 0 4 25 23 43 34 −10
Net exports of goods and services 52 36 −26 −48 −67 −67 −84 −121 −114 −104 −131 −72
Exports 678 675 530 446 394 412 410 428 460 454 356 407
Goods 658 654 510 424 372 388 387 404 437 432 334 384
Services 20 20 20 22 20 23 22 23 22 22 21 22
Imports 626 639 556 494 460 479 494 549 575 558 488 479
Goods 575 586 508 450 417 433 448 498 523 508 437 431
Services 51 52 49 45 44 47 46 51 52 50 51 48
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 227 239 275 290 309 297 278 298 322 276 261 257
Federal 18 20 30 22 22 21 20 22 24 24 23 21
Territorial 209 219 244 268 287 276 258 277 298 252 238 236
Addenda:
Population (thousands)1 64.8 65.1 62.4 55.5 56.0 56.5 57.0 57.5 58.1 58.6 58.7 58.0
Per capita real GDP (chained dollars) 11,219 10,876 10,865 12,270 12,196 11,558 11,140 11,148 11,188 10,785 10,136 10,483
  1. BEA estimates based on data from the American Samoa Department of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Table A.1.3. Percent Change from Preceding Year in Real Gross Domestic Product, American Samoa
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product −2.5 −4.2 0.4 0.3 −4.3 −2.8 1.0 1.4 −2.8 −5.8 2.2
Personal consumption expenditures −2.4 −2.9 −4.3 −4.6 −2.0 3.5 0.8 −0.3 1.2 −0.1 0.3
Goods −1.9 −7.8 −4.6 −9.3 −2.6 10.8 1.2 −4.0 −1.3 −1.9 1.1
Durable goods 3.0 −12.7 0.9 −14.6 −5.7 26.8 17.4 −12.1 −2.9 −10.7 6.3
Nondurable goods −2.5 −7.1 −5.4 −8.5 −2.2 8.6 −1.4 −2.4 −1.0 −0.4 0.3
Services −2.3 2.5 −3.4 −0.9 −0.5 −1.2 0.7 2.4 2.7 0.7 −0.5
Net foreign travel …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Private fixed investment 13.5 −15.9 30.9 5.2 −2.3 8.0 6.9 −20.7 −7.5 0.2 7.7
Change in private inventories …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Net exports of goods and services …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Exports −0.4 −21.4 −15.8 −11.8 4.7 −0.5 4.4 7.6 −1.3 −21.6 14.2
Goods −0.6 −22.1 −16.8 −12.2 4.1 −0.2 4.4 8.2 −1.3 −22.8 15.0
Services 4.9 −0.2 5.4 −5.8 13.0 −6.2 4.9 −1.7 −2.6 −2.6 4.3
Imports 2.1 −12.9 −11.1 −6.9 4.1 3.1 11.1 4.7 −2.9 −12.7 −1.8
Goods 1.9 −13.4 −11.4 −7.4 3.8 3.6 11.0 5.1 −2.9 −14.0 −1.3
Services 3.5 −7.3 −8.0 −2.1 7.3 −2.3 12.1 1.2 −2.8 0.4 −6.2
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 5.4 15.0 5.6 6.6 −4.1 −6.4 7.5 7.8 −14.2 −5.3 −1.6
Federal 12.3 49.5 −28.1 1.4 −5.6 −4.6 9.9 9.2 −0.5 −3.1 −8.2
Territorial 4.8 11.8 9.8 7.0 −4.0 −6.5 7.3 7.7 −15.3 −5.5 −1.0
Table A.1.4. Contributions to Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product, American Samoa
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Percent change:                      
Gross domestic product −2.5 −4.2 0.4 0.3 −4.3 −2.8 1.0 1.4 −2.8 −5.8 2.2
Percentage points:                      
Personal consumption expenditures −1.78 −1.83 −2.84 −3.32 −1.37 2.27 0.57 −0.20 0.77 −0.09 0.20
Goods −0.69 −2.56 −1.50 −3.27 −0.81 3.17 0.39 −1.34 −0.39 −0.60 0.37
Durable goods 0.13 −0.54 0.03 −0.66 −0.21 0.94 0.80 −0.65 −0.13 −0.49 0.27
Nondurable goods −0.82 −2.02 −1.54 −2.61 −0.59 2.23 −0.41 −0.69 −0.26 −0.10 0.10
Services −0.83 0.81 −1.18 −0.36 −0.19 −0.44 0.27 0.92 0.98 0.26 −0.21
Net foreign travel −0.25 −0.08 −0.16 0.30 −0.38 −0.46 −0.10 0.22 0.18 0.25 0.03
Private fixed investment 0.99 −1.14 1.89 0.44 −0.19 0.67 0.65 −2.12 −0.60 0.02 0.65
Change in private inventories −0.98 0.90 0.43 0.35 0.48 0.83 3.94 −0.42 3.05 −1.43 −8.34
Net exports of goods and services −2.99 −7.80 −1.70 −0.80 −0.97 −3.33 −7.91 0.05 1.94 −1.67 10.56
Exports −0.46 −22.11 −12.25 −7.65 2.96 −0.36 2.99 4.82 −0.87 −14.86 8.68
Goods −0.62 −22.11 −12.43 −7.42 2.49 −0.12 2.80 4.89 −0.76 −14.76 8.49
Services 0.16 −0.01 0.18 −0.23 0.47 −0.25 0.19 −0.07 −0.10 −0.10 0.18
Imports −2.53 14.31 10.55 6.86 −3.93 −2.97 −10.89 −4.77 2.81 13.19 1.89
Goods −2.19 13.69 9.88 6.67 −3.33 −3.17 −9.85 −4.66 2.54 13.22 1.26
Services −0.33 0.62 0.66 0.18 −0.60 0.20 −1.05 −0.11 0.27 −0.03 0.63
Government consumption expenditures
and gross investment		 2.21 5.67 2.58 3.58 −2.27 −3.24 3.70 4.14 −7.97 −2.66 −0.84
Federal 0.40 1.58 −1.40 0.06 −0.21 −0.16 0.33 0.34 −0.02 −0.13 −0.35
Territorial 1.81 4.09 3.98 3.52 −2.06 −3.09 3.37 3.80 −7.95 −2.53 −0.49
Table A.1.5. Percent Change from Preceding Year in Prices for Gross Domestic Product, American Samoa
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 11.1 25.7 −15.4 −0.6 17.3 2.3 −0.7 1.4 1.5 −1.9 3.3
Personal consumption expenditures 8.9 0.8 5.4 7.8 4.7 1.8 1.0 −2.2 −0.7 3.2 2.5
Table A.2.1. Value Added by Industry, American Samoa
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 520 563 678 576 574 644 641 642 661 652 602
Private industries 365 404 514 389 389 450 450 454 465 455 409
Manufacturing 77 112 163 41 21 89 93 77 91 89 63
Nonmanufacturing 288 291 351 348 368 361 357 377 374 366 346
Government 156 160 165 187 185 195 191 188 196 197 193
Federal 14 16 18 18 17 17 18 18 18 19 18
Territorial 142 144 146 169 168 177 172 171 177 178 175

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Table A.2.2. Real Value Added by Industry, American Samoa
[Millions of chained (2009) dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 727 708 678 681 683 653 635 641 650 632 595
Private industries 568 544 514 501 514 474 464 478 487 470 435
Manufacturing 204 205 163 143 132 138 135 139 160 155 122
Nonmanufacturing 366 345 351 353 365 331 324 334 331 319 305
Government 163 166 165 177 170 176 168 162 162 161 158
Federal 14 17 18 17 16 16 17 16 16 16 16
Territorial 148 149 146 160 154 160 151 145 146 144 142
Table A.2.3. Percent Changes in Real Value Added by Industry, American Samoa
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product −2.5 −4.2 0.4 0.3 −4.3 −2.8 1.0 1.4 −2.8 −5.8
Private industries −4.2 −5.5 −2.4 2.5 −7.7 −2.2 3.1 1.8 −3.5 −7.5
Manufacturing 0.4 −20.3 −12.3 −7.9 4.9 −1.9 3.0 14.5 −2.7 −21.5
Nonmanufacturing −5.7 1.7 0.7 3.4 −9.3 −2.2 3.1 −0.8 −3.7 −4.2
Government 1.7 −0.6 7.8 −4.2 3.4 −4.3 −4.0 0.5 −1.0 −2.1
Federal 14.7 10.7 −7.6 −4.4 −0.8 5.0 −4.0 −1.1 2.0 −4.3
Territorial 0.4 −1.8 9.7 −4.1 3.8 −5.2 −4.0 0.7 −1.3 −1.8
Table A.2.4. Contributions to Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product by Industry, American Samoa
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Percent change:                    
Gross domestic product −2.5 −4.2 0.4 0.3 −4.3 −2.8 1.0 1.4 −2.8 −5.8
Percentage points:                    
Private industries −3.03 −4.14 −1.81 1.64 −5.34 −1.51 2.15 1.29 −2.49 −5.21
Manufacturing 0.07 −4.98 −2.21 −0.47 0.40 −0.27 0.39 1.76 −0.37 −2.82
Nonmanufacturing −3.10 0.84 0.40 2.11 −5.74 −1.24 1.77 −0.46 −2.12 −2.40
Government 0.48 −0.14 2.14 −1.38 1.02 −1.30 −1.20 0.15 −0.30 −0.63
Federal 0.38 0.28 −0.23 −0.14 −0.02 0.13 −0.11 −0.03 0.05 −0.13
Territorial 0.11 −0.42 2.37 −1.24 1.04 −1.43 −1.09 0.18 −0.36 −0.50

Note. Percentage-point contributions do not sum to the percent change in real gross domestic product (GDP) because of rounding and differences in source data used to estimate GDP by industry and the expenditures measure of real GDP.

Table A.2.5. Compensation of Employees by Industry, American Samoa
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Total compensation 265 274 271 270 262 272 279 297 311 313 299
Private industries 125 131 125 97 97 103 107 119 126 130 123
Manufacturing 52 59 53 31 27 40 42 46 54 54 49
Nonmanufacturing 73 72 71 66 70 63 65 74 72 75 74
Government 140 143 147 173 164 169 171 178 185 183 176
Federal 13 16 18 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 17
Territorial 127 127 129 156 148 152 154 161 167 165 159

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

Real GDP decreased 19.6 percent in 2018 (table B.1.3).

  • The decline in the CNMI economy primarily reflected declines in gaming industry revenues and private fixed investment.
  • Exports of services was the largest contributor to the decline in real GDP in 2018, reflecting decreases in visitor spending, particularly on casino gambling. Visitor arrivals in the CNMI decreased over 20 percent, with significant declines in the months following Typhoon Yutu, which made landfall on Saipan and Tinian in October 2018 (table B.1.4).
  • Private fixed investment declined in 2018 but remained at historically high levels, supported by continued development of the casino resort on Saipan and the start of post-typhoon repairs and reconstruction activity.
Table B.1.1. Gross Domestic Product, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 938 939 795 799 733 751 782 845 931 1,250 1,601 1,323
Personal consumption expenditures 480 504 431 442 451 469 494 520 526 551 607 616
Goods 358 387 332 354 366 399 424 451 453 462 522 522
Durable goods 137 142 119 130 132 143 166 186 194 202 227 225
Nondurable goods 222 245 213 224 234 256 257 265 258 259 295 298
Services 409 427 381 398 378 427 460 498 556 965 1,168 772
Net foreign travel −287 −310 −283 −309 −293 −357 −390 −429 −483 −876 −1,083 −678
Private fixed investment 79 83 85 77 74 79 87 123 198 327 301 245
Net exports of goods and services 47 29 −47 −70 −132 −98 −111 −110 −130 0 282 −14
Exports 627 488 312 335 317 380 414 451 504 903 1,113 712
Goods 333 172 23 19 17 16 17 15 13 19 23 26
Services 293 316 289 316 300 364 397 436 491 883 1,091 686
Imports 579 459 360 405 449 478 525 561 633 902 831 726
Goods 498 394 307 346 384 409 449 477 488 636 632 608
Services 81 66 53 59 65 69 76 84 145 267 199 119
Government consumption expenditures
and gross investment		 332 324 327 349 340 301 312 312 336 372 411 476
Federal 13 15 20 22 22 21 20 22 29 26 26 57
Territorial 319 308 306 327 318 279 292 290 308 346 386 419

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Table B.1.2. Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
[Millions of chained (2009) dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product (GDP) 1,084 964 795 806 744 748 766 795 823 1,056 1,326 1,066
Personal consumption expenditures 516 509 431 444 430 440 463 483 499 518 554 548
Goods 395 400 332 349 338 363 388 403 414 422 462 450
Durable goods 149 149 119 127 121 131 153 169 185 190 203 196
Nondurable goods 246 251 213 222 217 232 234 235 230 233 260 254
Services 434 433 381 389 354 390 413 435 485 812 966 622
Net foreign travel −313 −324 −283 −294 −263 −313 −336 −353 −400 −732 −894 −528
Private fixed investment 80 82 85 78 72 76 84 119 193 320 292 234
Net exports of goods and services 147 48 −47 −56 −82 −52 −64 −76 −148 −105 133 −78
Exports 747 476 312 320 284 333 357 373 415 721 874 544
Goods 396 138 23 19 15 14 15 13 12 18 20 23
Services 320 331 289 300 269 319 342 359 402 702 852 522
Imports 600 428 360 376 367 384 421 449 563 825 741 622
Goods 511 361 307 320 308 323 354 378 440 594 573 527
Services 88 67 53 56 59 61 67 71 124 229 169 98
Government consumption expenditures
and gross investment		 348 326 327 341 327 286 289 279 297 326 349 381
Federal 13 16 20 21 21 20 19 20 25 23 22 47
Territorial 335 310 306 320 307 265 270 259 272 304 327 334
Addenda:
Population (thousands)1 59.3 57.6 55.5 53.5 52.2 51.4 51.2 51.0 50.8 50.6 50.3 50.0
Per capita real GDP (chained dollars) 18,280 16,736 14,324 15,065 14,253 14,553 14,961 15,588 16,201 20,870 26,362 21,320

Note. Estimates of population for 2013–2018 reflect the incorporation of updated information from the U.S. Census Bureau International Data Base.

  1. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Table B.1.3. Percent Change from Preceding Year in Real Gross Domestic Product, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product −11.1 −17.5 1.3 −7.7 0.6 2.4 3.9 3.5 28.4 25.5 −19.6
Personal consumption expenditures −1.4 −15.4 3.0 −3.2 2.4 5.3 4.2 3.4 3.7 7.1 −1.1
Goods 1.3 −17.1 5.1 −3.0 7.4 6.7 4.0 2.7 2.0 9.5 −2.7
Durable goods 0.2 −20.2 6.7 −5.0 8.5 17.0 10.0 9.5 3.1 6.7 −3.4
Nondurable goods 2.0 −15.3 4.1 −1.9 6.8 1.0 0.1 −2.1 1.2 11.7 −2.2
Services −0.3 −11.9 2.0 −9.1 10.4 5.7 5.3 11.6 67.4 19.0 −35.6
Net foreign travel …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Private fixed investment 2.1 4.4 −8.9 −6.9 5.6 9.4 42.2 62.6 65.7 −8.9 −19.8
Net exports of goods and services …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Exports −36.3 −34.4 2.4 −11.1 17.1 7.2 4.5 11.3 73.8 21.2 −37.7
Goods −65.2 −83.4 −16.7 −20.8 −8.6 6.9 −11.7 −9.0 48.2 16.5 11.8
Services 3.4 −12.5 3.8 −10.5 18.5 7.3 5.2 11.9 74.5 21.3 −38.8
Imports −28.6 −16.0 4.5 −2.5 4.8 9.5 6.7 25.4 46.6 −10.3 −16.1
Goods −29.3 −15.0 4.3 −3.8 5.0 9.6 6.6 16.4 35.0 −3.6 −7.9
Services −24.3 −21.2 6.0 5.7 3.8 8.8 7.3 73.4 85.3 −26.3 −42.0
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 −6.4 0.2 4.4 −4.0 −12.8 1.1 −3.2 6.5 9.7 6.8 9.2
Federal 19.2 30.7 4.4 −3.6 −2.5 −6.4 7.4 26.1 −9.7 −4.4 113.8
Territorial −7.4 −1.3 4.4 −4.0 −13.5 1.7 −4.0 4.9 11.5 7.6 2.3
Table B.1.4. Contributions to Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Percent change:                      
Gross domestic product −11.1 −17.5 1.3 −7.7 0.6 2.4 3.9 3.5 28.4 25.5 −19.6
Percentage points:                      
Personal consumption expenditures −0.68 −8.36 1.65 −1.80 1.47 3.27 2.63 2.00 2.07 3.12 −0.43
Goods 0.48 −7.20 2.14 −1.39 3.69 3.55 2.13 1.37 0.95 3.54 −0.87
Durable goods 0.03 −3.14 1.02 −0.84 1.52 3.22 2.09 1.99 0.63 1.10 −0.48
Nondurable goods 0.45 −4.06 1.12 −0.55 2.17 0.33 0.04 −0.63 0.32 2.43 −0.40
Services −0.13 −5.45 0.99 −4.67 5.37 3.25 3.13 6.64 40.11 14.61 −25.97
Net foreign travel −1.02 4.28 −1.47 4.25 −7.60 −3.52 −2.64 −6.01 −38.99 −15.03 26.41
Private fixed investment 0.17 0.38 −0.96 −0.67 0.56 0.98 4.59 8.83 13.65 −2.32 −3.69
Net exports of goods and services −8.43 −9.64 −1.19 −3.46 4.44 −2.35 −2.05 −9.70 9.19 22.68 −17.87
Exports −25.55 −17.22 0.95 −4.80 7.39 3.66 2.38 5.85 39.66 15.27 −26.24
Goods −26.56 −12.91 −0.49 −0.53 −0.20 0.14 −0.25 −0.15 0.66 0.25 0.17
Services 1.01 −4.31 1.44 −4.27 7.58 3.52 2.63 6.00 39.00 15.02 −26.41
Imports 17.13 7.58 −2.14 1.35 −2.95 −6.01 −4.43 −15.55 −30.47 7.40 8.38
Goods 15.13 6.08 −1.74 1.78 −2.62 −5.21 −3.73 −8.49 −17.57 1.82 3.15
Services 2.00 1.50 −0.41 −0.43 −0.33 −0.80 −0.70 −7.06 −12.90 5.59 5.22
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 −2.12 0.08 1.82 −1.75 −5.92 0.45 −1.28 2.33 3.45 2.04 2.40
Federal 0.24 0.51 0.11 −0.10 −0.07 −0.18 0.19 0.67 −0.29 −0.09 1.84
Territorial −2.36 −0.43 1.71 −1.65 −5.84 0.63 −1.47 1.66 3.74 2.13 0.56
Table B.1.5. Percent Change from Preceding Year in Prices for Gross Domestic Product, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 12.5 2.7 −0.8 −0.7 1.9 1.7 4.1 6.4 4.7 2.0 2.8
Personal consumption expenditures 6.3 1.1 −0.4 5.3 1.6 −0.1 1.1 −2.2 1.0 3.0 2.6
Table B.2.1. Value Added by Industry, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 938 939 795 799 733 751 782 845 931 1,250 1,601
Private industries 717 727 586 589 540 563 583 642 716 1,024 1,340
Manufacturing 174 50 18 16 15 12 11 15 18 22 18
Distributive services 140 165 135 149 153 157 170 178 187 196 207
Accommodations and amusement 111 122 105 110 97 114 134 149 188 450 721
All other 291 390 328 314 274 280 269 301 323 355 394
Government 222 212 209 210 193 188 198 203 215 226 261
Federal 13 14 16 14 15 15 15 14 16 16 17
Territorial 209 197 193 196 178 173 184 189 199 210 244

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Table B.2.2. Real Value Added by Industry, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
[Millions of chained (2009) dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 1,084 964 795 806 744 748 766 795 823 1,056 1,326
Private industries 846 745 586 601 560 573 585 616 641 868 1,115
Manufacturing 181 52 18 16 15 11 10 13 16 20 15
Distributive services 147 169 135 147 148 148 158 164 170 179 189
Accommodations and amusement 120 128 105 110 98 110 126 136 165 364 574
All other 391 396 328 328 298 303 288 298 285 291 313
Government 237 219 209 204 184 176 182 182 184 191 215
Federal 13 15 16 14 14 14 13 13 13 14 14
Territorial 224 205 193 191 170 163 168 169 170 177 200
Table B.2.3. Percent Changes in Real Value Added by Industry, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product −11.1 −17.5 1.3 −7.7 0.6 2.4 3.9 3.5 28.4 25.5
Private industries −12.0 −21.3 2.6 −6.9 2.3 2.1 5.2 4.1 35.4 28.5
Manufacturing −71.4 −65.4 −10.5 −7.8 −27.3 −6.5 32.3 21.1 23.1 −21.7
Distributive services 15.1 −20.4 9.3 0.8 −0.3 7.1 3.8 3.4 5.4 5.8
Accommodations and amusement 6.9 −17.8 4.2 −11.0 13.0 13.8 8.4 20.8 121.2 57.8
All other 1.2 −17.1 0.1 −9.1 1.6 −5.2 3.5 −4.3 2.3 7.2
Government −7.5 −4.6 −2.3 −9.9 −4.3 3.1 −0.1 1.2 4.1 12.2
Federal 10.0 9.9 −15.1 1.5 −2.4 −2.1 −3.8 4.5 3.6 1.3
Territorial −8.6 −5.6 −1.2 −10.8 −4.5 3.6 0.2 0.9 4.2 13.0
Table B.2.4. Contributions to Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product by Industry, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Percent change:                    
Gross domestic product −11.1 −17.5 1.3 −7.7 0.6 2.4 3.9 3.5 28.4 25.5
Percentage points:                    
Private industries −9.27 −16.49 1.94 −5.05 1.68 1.57 3.91 3.14 27.40 23.32
Manufacturing −12.60 −3.50 −0.24 −0.16 −0.58 −0.10 0.45 0.36 0.44 −0.39
Distributive services 2.16 −3.58 1.58 0.16 −0.06 1.48 0.82 0.70 1.06 0.89
Accommodations and amusement 0.78 −2.34 0.55 −1.52 1.74 2.12 1.42 3.63 25.09 20.74
All other 0.39 −7.07 0.04 −3.53 0.58 −1.92 1.22 −1.55 0.81 2.07
Government −1.71 −1.04 −0.61 −2.65 −1.13 0.79 −0.03 0.28 0.94 2.22
Federal 0.13 0.15 −0.32 0.03 −0.05 −0.04 −0.07 0.08 0.06 0.02
Territorial −1.84 −1.19 −0.30 −2.68 −1.08 0.83 0.04 0.21 0.88 2.20

Note. Percentage-point contributions do not sum to the percent change in real gross domestic product (GDP) because of rounding and differences in source data used to estimate GDP by industry and the expenditures measure of real GDP.

Table B.2.5. Compensation of Employees by Industry, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Total compensation 533 501 455 456 431 415 433 469 497 581 656
Private industries 336 307 263 264 259 252 267 298 311 383 436
Manufacturing 74 26 9 8 8 8 7 10 12 15 12
Distributive services 62 72 58 62 62 63 67 71 74 78 82
Accommodations and amusement 61 67 58 60 54 64 74 83 104 150 184
All other 140 142 137 134 135 119 118 135 121 141 159
Government 197 194 192 191 172 163 166 171 186 198 220
Federal 13 14 16 14 14 14 14 14 15 16 16
Territorial 184 180 176 177 158 149 152 158 171 182 204

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Guam

Real GDP decreased 0.3 percent in 2018 (table C.1.3).

  • The decline in the Guam economy reflected decreases in local government spending and private fixed investment (table C.1.4).3
  • Territorial government spending on construction and equipment decreased, despite progress on major infrastructure projects, including an improved wastewater treatment plant.
  • Private fixed investment continued to decline in 2018, as a number of major projects faced delays.
Table C.1.1. Gross Domestic Product, Guam
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 4,375 4,621 4,781 4,895 4,928 5,199 5,336 5,538 5,710 5,795 5,851 5,920
Personal consumption expenditures 2,536 2,753 2,813 2,816 2,905 3,153 3,146 3,194 3,181 3,256 3,387 3,455
Goods 1,414 1,512 1,448 1,462 1,564 1,765 1,709 1,717 1,664 1,704 1,759 1,800
Durable goods 518 542 520 523 564 635 616 596 586 607 636 627
Nondurable goods 897 970 928 939 1,001 1,130 1,093 1,120 1,078 1,097 1,123 1,173
Services 2,007 2,076 2,100 2,123 2,131 2,279 2,307 2,417 2,487 2,588 2,659 2,726
Net foreign travel −885 −835 −735 −769 −790 −892 −871 −940 −969 −1,036 −1,032 −1,071
Private fixed investment 921 1,057 1,081 1,057 1,027 1,044 1,224 1,308 1,242 1,184 1,177 1,190
Net exports of goods and services −1,483 −1,699 −1,801 −1,873 −2,021 −2,033 −2,153 −2,225 −1,994 −1,854 −1,897 −2,013
Exports 1,005 973 838 846 928 1,004 1,053 1,058 1,048 1,123 1,129 1,165
Goods 115 133 98 73 133 107 177 112 73 82 92 87
Services 890 840 740 774 795 897 876 946 975 1,041 1,037 1,078
Imports 2,489 2,673 2,639 2,719 2,949 3,037 3,206 3,283 3,042 2,976 3,026 3,178
Goods 2,018 2,115 2,051 2,098 2,289 2,395 2,512 2,558 2,331 2,285 2,333 2,448
Services 470 558 588 621 661 642 694 725 711 691 692 730
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 2,402 2,510 2,688 2,894 3,017 3,035 3,120 3,261 3,281 3,208 3,183 3,288
Federal 1,491 1,597 1,738 1,854 1,895 1,898 1,890 1,965 2,011 1,988 1,881 1,957
Territorial 911 913 950 1,039 1,121 1,138 1,230 1,296 1,270 1,220 1,302 1,331

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Table C.1.2. Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars, Guam
[Millions of chained (2009) dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product (GDP) 4,685 4,766 4,781 4,881 4,887 4,986 5,077 5,165 5,189 5,204 5,217 5,203
Personal consumption expenditures 2,725 2,794 2,813 2,782 2,823 2,925 2,929 2,949 2,972 3,020 3,084 3,083
Goods 1,507 1,520 1,448 1,477 1,551 1,686 1,650 1,648 1,628 1,672 1,695 1,699
Durable goods 553 538 520 529 575 631 628 618 626 639 645 642
Nondurable goods 954 983 928 948 976 1,056 1,024 1,030 1,004 1,035 1,051 1,059
Services 2,154 2,121 2,100 2,068 2,040 2,084 2,112 2,189 2,248 2,318 2,351 2,364
Net foreign travel −937 −849 −735 −763 −766 −840 −830 −887 −906 −973 −964 −984
Private fixed investment 921 1,038 1,081 1,062 1,015 1,015 1,181 1,247 1,182 1,127 1,107 1,097
Net exports of goods and services −1,448 −1,581 −1,801 −1,808 −1,845 −1,829 −1,933 −1,985 −1,899 −1,801 −1,783 −1,782
Exports 1,061 977 838 837 892 938 996 992 976 1,052 1,053 1,068
Goods 120 124 98 70 118 93 156 99 66 76 85 79
Services 942 853 740 767 771 845 835 892 911 978 969 990
Imports 2,509 2,558 2,639 2,646 2,737 2,767 2,928 2,977 2,875 2,854 2,836 2,850
Goods 2,031 2,008 2,051 2,024 2,090 2,149 2,274 2,309 2,232 2,237 2,232 2,232
Services 477 550 588 623 648 616 653 666 642 616 604 618
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 2,490 2,513 2,688 2,844 2,895 2,874 2,908 2,962 2,942 2,868 2,820 2,817
Federal 1,528 1,587 1,738 1,818 1,817 1,791 1,773 1,814 1,833 1,796 1,673 1,684
Territorial 964 926 950 1,025 1,078 1,083 1,135 1,148 1,111 1,073 1,148 1,133
Addenda:
Population (thousands)1 158.0 158.4 158.9 159.4 159.5 159.8 160.5 161.0 161.5 162.0 162.5 162.9
Per capita real GDP (chained dollars) 29,652 30,088 30,088 30,621 30,639 31,202 31,632 32,081 32,130 32,123 32,105 31,940
  1. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Table C.1.3. Percent Change from Preceding Year in Real Gross Domestic Product, Guam
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 1.7 0.3 2.1 0.1 2.0 1.8 1.7 0.5 0.3 0.2 −0.3
Personal consumption expenditures 2.5 0.7 −1.1 1.5 3.6 0.1 0.7 0.8 1.6 2.1 −0.1
Goods 0.9 −4.8 2.0 5.0 8.7 −2.1 −0.1 −1.2 2.7 1.4 0.3
Durable goods −2.8 −3.3 1.7 8.8 9.7 −0.6 −1.5 1.2 2.1 1.0 −0.6
Nondurable goods 3.0 −5.6 2.2 3.0 8.2 −3.0 0.6 −2.5 3.0 1.6 0.7
Services −1.5 −1.0 −1.5 −1.4 2.1 1.3 3.6 2.7 3.1 1.4 0.5
Net foreign travel …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Private fixed investment 12.8 4.1 −1.7 −4.4 0.0 16.4 5.6 −5.2 −4.6 −1.8 −0.9
Net exports of goods and services …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Exports −7.9 −14.2 −0.1 6.5 5.2 6.1 −0.4 −1.6 7.8 0.1 1.4
Goods 3.1 −20.8 −28.2 68.1 −21.3 67.5 −36.3 −33.3 14.4 12.7 −7.2
Services −9.4 −13.3 3.7 0.4 9.6 −1.2 6.8 2.1 7.3 −0.9 2.2
Imports 2.0 3.1 0.3 3.4 1.1 5.8 1.7 −3.4 −0.7 −0.6 0.5
Goods −1.1 2.2 −1.3 3.3 2.9 5.8 1.5 −3.3 0.2 −0.2 0.0
Services 15.3 6.8 5.9 4.1 −5.0 6.0 2.0 −3.7 −3.9 −2.0 2.3
Government consumption expenditures
and gross investment		 0.9 6.9 5.8 1.8 −0.7 1.2 1.9 −0.7 −2.5 −1.7 −0.1
Federal 3.9 9.5 4.6 −0.1 −1.4 −1.0 2.3 1.1 −2.0 −6.9 0.7
Territorial −3.9 2.6 7.9 5.1 0.5 4.8 1.2 −3.3 −3.4 6.9 −1.3
Table C.1.4. Contributions to Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product, Guam
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Percent change:                      
Gross domestic product 1.7 0.3 2.1 0.1 2.0 1.8 1.7 0.5 0.3 0.2 −0.3
Percentage points:                      
Personal consumption expenditures 1.49 0.41 −0.65 0.84 2.15 0.07 0.42 0.43 0.91 1.20 −0.03
Goods 0.28 −1.54 0.60 1.50 2.78 −0.72 −0.04 −0.37 0.78 0.41 0.09
Durable goods −0.34 −0.38 0.18 0.93 1.10 −0.07 −0.17 0.13 0.22 0.11 −0.06
Nondurable goods 0.62 −1.16 0.42 0.57 1.67 −0.65 0.13 −0.50 0.57 0.30 0.15
Services −0.71 −0.44 −0.68 −0.59 0.92 0.59 1.57 1.16 1.37 0.63 0.25
Net foreign travel 1.91 2.39 −0.57 −0.07 −1.55 0.21 −1.11 −0.36 −1.24 0.16 −0.36
Private fixed investment 2.67 0.92 −0.39 −0.96 −0.01 3.29 1.28 −1.22 −0.99 −0.38 −0.18
Net exports of goods and services −2.94 −4.71 −0.16 −0.82 0.32 −2.22 −1.07 1.66 1.81 0.34 0.01
Exports −1.82 −2.96 −0.02 1.13 0.98 1.17 −0.08 −0.30 1.42 0.02 0.28
Goods 0.09 −0.56 −0.59 1.06 −0.57 1.38 −1.19 −0.66 0.18 0.18 −0.11
Services −1.91 −2.39 0.57 0.07 1.55 −0.20 1.11 0.36 1.24 −0.16 0.39
Imports −1.12 −1.76 −0.14 −1.96 −0.66 −3.39 −0.99 1.96 0.39 0.32 −0.26
Goods 0.52 −0.95 0.59 −1.43 −1.32 −2.64 −0.72 1.47 −0.10 0.09 0.01
Services −1.64 −0.81 −0.73 −0.53 0.66 −0.75 −0.26 0.48 0.49 0.24 −0.27
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 0.50 3.72 3.28 1.08 −0.44 0.69 1.09 −0.39 −1.44 −0.92 −0.07
Federal 1.32 3.21 1.70 −0.02 −0.54 −0.37 0.82 0.37 −0.70 −2.38 0.22
Territorial −0.82 0.51 1.58 1.10 0.10 1.06 0.28 −0.76 −0.75 1.46 −0.29
Table C.1.5. Percent Change from Preceding Year in Prices for Gross Domestic Product, Guam
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 3.8 3.1 0.3 0.5 3.4 0.8 2.0 2.6 1.2 0.7 1.5
Personal consumption expenditures 5.9 1.5 1.2 1.7 4.7 −0.4 0.8 −1.1 0.7 1.8 2.1
Table C.2.1. Value Added by Industry, Guam
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 4,375 4,621 4,781 4,895 4,928 5,199 5,336 5,538 5,710 5,795 5,851
Private industries 2,654 2,827 2,872 2,875 2,847 3,117 3,202 3,316 3,396 3,499 3,568
Construction 291 343 360 394 367 398 448 471 452 423 421
Distributive services 436 469 464 495 513 551 547 573 600 657 677
Accommodations and amusement 406 422 429 452 462 487 528 602 634 684 704
Other private 1,520 1,593 1,619 1,534 1,505 1,681 1,679 1,670 1,709 1,735 1,766
Government 1,721 1,795 1,910 2,020 2,081 2,082 2,134 2,222 2,314 2,296 2,283
Federal 1,008 1,071 1,157 1,217 1,253 1,249 1,250 1,274 1,311 1,276 1,267
Territorial 713 724 752 802 828 833 884 948 1,003 1,020 1,016

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Table C.2.2. Real Value Added by Industry, Guam
[Millions of chained (2009) dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 4,685 4,766 4,781 4,881 4,887 4,986 5,077 5,165 5,189 5,204 5,217
Private industries 2,876 2,929 2,872 2,906 2,879 2,998 3,071 3,140 3,143 3,200 3,223
Construction 304 360 360 402 369 391 431 440 414 381 369
Distributive services 470 502 464 488 495 519 506 525 533 586 604
Accommodations and amusement 437 445 429 459 478 491 534 583 602 636 646
Other private 1,667 1,622 1,619 1,557 1,537 1,595 1,603 1,595 1,597 1,600 1,608
Government 1,809 1,837 1,910 1,974 2,006 1,988 2,006 2,025 2,047 2,007 1,997
Federal 1,033 1,070 1,157 1,185 1,199 1,181 1,179 1,184 1,197 1,154 1,133
Territorial 779 769 752 790 807 808 828 841 850 851 861
Table C.2.3. Percent Changes in Real Value Added by Industry, Guam
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 1.7 0.3 2.1 0.1 2.0 1.8 1.7 0.5 0.3 0.2
Private industries 1.8 −1.9 1.2 −0.9 4.1 2.5 2.2 0.1 1.8 0.7
Construction 18.4 0.0 11.6 −8.0 5.9 10.1 2.3 −6.0 −7.9 −3.3
Distributive services 7.0 −7.7 5.3 1.4 4.8 −2.5 3.8 1.5 9.8 3.1
Accommodations and amusement 1.9 −3.6 7.1 4.1 2.9 8.6 9.3 3.3 5.6 1.5
Other private −2.7 −0.2 −3.8 −1.3 3.8 0.5 −0.5 0.1 0.2 0.5
Government 1.5 3.9 3.4 1.6 −0.9 0.9 0.9 1.1 −1.9 −0.5
Federal 3.6 8.2 2.3 1.2 −1.5 −0.1 0.4 1.1 −3.6 −1.8
Territorial −1.4 −2.1 5.0 2.2 0.1 2.4 1.6 1.0 0.2 1.2
Table C.2.4. Contributions to Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product by Industry, Guam
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Percent change:                    
Gross domestic product 1.7 0.3 2.1 0.1 2.0 1.8 1.7 0.5 0.3 0.2
Percentage points:                    
Private industries 1.11 −1.19 0.72 −0.54 2.39 1.47 1.34 0.05 1.08 0.45
Construction 1.20 0.00 0.86 −0.65 0.44 0.78 0.19 −0.51 −0.63 −0.24
Distributive services 0.69 −0.80 0.52 0.15 0.49 −0.27 0.39 0.16 1.03 0.35
Accommodations and amusement 0.17 −0.34 0.63 0.37 0.27 0.80 0.93 0.35 0.63 0.18
Other private −0.94 −0.06 −1.29 −0.41 1.19 0.15 −0.16 0.04 0.05 0.16
Government 0.60 1.53 1.37 0.67 −0.37 0.36 0.38 0.43 −0.79 −0.20
Federal 0.83 1.86 0.58 0.30 −0.38 −0.03 0.10 0.25 −0.82 −0.40
Territorial −0.22 −0.34 0.79 0.36 0.01 0.39 0.28 0.18 0.03 0.20

Note. Percentage-point contributions do not sum to the percent change in real gross domestic product (GDP) because of rounding and differences in source data used to estimate GDP by industry and the expenditures measure of real GDP.

Table C.2.5. Compensation of Employees by Industry, Guam
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Total compensation 2,453 2,588 2,715 2,861 2,907 2,950 3,011 3,146 3,269 3,260 3,303
Private industries 1,224 1,299 1,348 1,407 1,397 1,446 1,478 1,558 1,622 1,655 1,711
Construction 135 155 171 192 183 186 213 228 214 194 194
Distributive services 245 260 255 270 278 298 295 309 333 356 377
Accommodations and amusement 203 212 217 227 231 243 257 273 298 317 322
Other private 641 671 704 718 706 719 713 748 779 788 819
Government 1,228 1,289 1,367 1,455 1,510 1,504 1,532 1,587 1,647 1,605 1,592
Federal 647 695 746 802 835 829 827 849 883 845 836
Territorial 582 594 621 653 676 675 706 738 764 760 755

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Real GDP increased 1.5 percent in 2018 (table D.1.3).

  • The growth in the U.S. Virgin Islands economy reflected increases in government spending, private fixed investment, and consumer spending (table D.1.4).
  • Private fixed investment increased significantly due to reconstruction and major repairs of homes and businesses that were destroyed or heavily damaged in 2017 by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
  • Territorial government spending increased significantly, reflecting spending on hurricane response and reconstruction activities that were supported by federal government grants.
  • Consumer spending increased, reflecting growth in household purchases of goods, including motor vehicles and food.

New estimates of GDP by industry and compensation by industry for 2017 were also included in the 2018 GDP news releases for each territory. These estimates, along with GDP for 2018, are presented in detail in the accompanying tables.4

The methods used to derive the estimates of GDP and GDP by industry are summarized in the appendix “Summary of Methodologies.”

Table D.1.1. Gross Domestic Product, U.S. Virgin Islands
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 4,803 4,250 4,203 4,339 4,239 4,095 3,762 3,622 3,748 3,873 3,893 3,984
Personal consumption expenditures 2,280 2,311 2,368 2,428 2,524 2,528 2,526 2,527 2,609 2,641 2,642 2,739
Goods 1,319 1,262 1,215 1,205 1,233 1,206 1,200 1,207 1,213 1,216 1,117 1,211
Durable goods 822 741 688 664 678 666 718 729 718 732 627 683
Nondurable goods 497 520 527 541 556 540 481 479 495 484 490 528
Foods, feeds, and beverages 258 264 277 288 305 322 319 323 332 321 326 358
Other nondurable goods 239 257 250 253 251 219 162 155 163 163 165 170
Services 2,075 2,184 2,156 2,233 2,323 2,402 2,444 2,482 2,597 2,643 2,575 2,417
Housing and utilities 587 632 653 655 710 745 788 790 828 825 847 877
Health care 189 216 231 243 268 288 294 290 312 325 307 263
Food services and accommodations 515 538 507 542 551 568 585 617 652 670 615 424
Other services 784 797 764 792 793 801 777 785 804 824 806 853
Net foreign travel −1,114 −1,135 −1,004 −1,011 −1,032 −1,080 −1,117 −1,162 −1,201 −1,218 −1,051 −888
Private fixed investment 529 476 393 380 363 263 274 286 288 289 311 483
Change in private inventories −540 180 210 −267 104 114 149 −6 −172 574 810 962
Net exports of goods and services 1,532 240 123 580 100 163 −231 −234 −11 −680 −1,074 −1,903
Exports 14,141 18,412 10,717 12,945 14,371 3,278 2,525 2,795 1,537 1,809 2,452 2,140
Goods 13,002 17,255 9,696 11,922 13,329 2,186 1,395 1,623 329 582 1,392 1,242
Services 1,139 1,157 1,021 1,023 1,043 1,091 1,130 1,172 1,208 1,227 1,060 898
Imports 12,608 18,172 10,595 12,365 14,271 3,114 2,755 3,029 1,549 2,489 3,526 4,043
Goods 12,251 17,861 10,310 12,067 13,943 2,932 2,570 2,841 1,367 2,291 3,267 3,707
Services 357 311 285 298 329 182 185 188 182 198 259 336
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 1,002 1,043 1,110 1,219 1,148 1,027 1,044 1,049 1,036 1,048 1,205 1,703
Federal 117 121 136 176 167 162 160 142 151 148 209 275
Territorial 885 922 974 1,043 981 865 884 907 884 901 996 1,428p

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

  1. (p) Fiscal year 2018 audited financial statements for the central government and various independent agencies were not available in time for incorporation into these estimates. Preliminary estimates of territorial government spending are based on information collected from budget documents and reports on federal grant expenditures, including disaster assistance grants.
Table D.1.2. Real Gross Domestic Product, Chained Dollars, U.S. Virgin Islands
[Millions of chained (2009) dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product (GDP) 4,460 4,502 4,203 4,241 3,895 3,310 3,117 3,090 3,098 3,133 3,114 3,161
Personal consumption expenditures 2,417 2,313 2,368 2,396 2,375 2,297 2,240 2,232 2,287 2,293 2,244 2,275
Goods 1,430 1,269 1,215 1,183 1,138 1,080 1,074 1,096 1,119 1,109 1,000 1,076
Durable goods 898 756 688 659 633 613 664 696 702 691 586 641
Nondurable goods 534 514 527 524 504 467 414 405 421 423 415 437
Foods, feeds, and beverages 277 267 277 287 293 291 279 275 270 264 260 285
Other nondurable goods 257 247 250 237 213 180 139 135 158 166 162 158
Services 2,184 2,195 2,156 2,205 2,220 2,224 2,197 2,212 2,273 2,292 2,179 2,001
Housing and utilities 646 625 653 647 652 641 639 645 661 662 649 657
Health care 200 222 231 240 262 279 282 277 297 307 288 244
Food services and accommodations 530 543 507 535 531 532 537 552 567 578 520 351
Other services 808 805 764 783 775 774 739 737 747 746 720 743
Net foreign travel −1,197 −1,153 −1,004 −992 −982 −1,005 −1,031 −1,076 −1,106 −1,111 −934 −788
Private fixed investment 540 475 393 379 356 253 261 269 270 270 287 435
Change in private inventories −435 111 210 −207 59 62 82 −4 −175 677 772 753
Net exports of goods and services 920 498 123 511 67 −2 −114 −20 60 −469 −597 −989
Exports 11,731 11,903 10,717 10,278 8,559 1,849 1,547 1,825 1,174 1,417 1,788 1,437
Goods 10,538 10,738 9,696 9,277 7,617 1,170 861 1,116 329 647 1,363 1,056
Services 1,222 1,173 1,021 1,004 992 1,015 1,042 1,085 1,113 1,118 943 797
Imports 10,811 11,405 10,595 9,768 8,492 1,851 1,661 1,844 1,114 1,887 2,384 2,426
Goods 10,469 11,106 10,310 9,482 8,226 1,728 1,539 1,723 994 1,763 2,228 2,232
Services 361 297 285 288 273 151 151 149 145 159 201 247
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 1,048 1,057 1,110 1,168 1,098 998 983 956 935 929 1,045 1,430
Federal 121 122 136 170 155 150 146 127 134 128 178 227
Territorial 927 935 974 998 943 848 837 829 801 801 867 1,202p
Addenda:
Population (thousands)1 114.7 115.9 107.3 106.4 105.9 105.4 105.3 105.1 104.9 104.7 104.5 104.2
Per capita real GDP (chained dollars) 38,884 38,844 39,171 39,859 36,780 31,404 29,601 29,401 29,533 29,924 29,799 30,336
  1. BEA estimates based on data from the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research and the U.S. Census Bureau.
  2. (p) Fiscal year 2018 audited financial statements for the central government and various independent agencies were not available in time for incorporation into these estimates. Preliminary estimates of territorial government spending are based on information collected from budget documents and reports on federal grant expenditures, including disaster assistance grants.
Table D.1.3. Percent Change from Preceding Year in Real Gross Domestic Product, U.S. Virgin Islands
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product 0.9 −6.6 0.9 −8.2 −15.0 −5.8 −0.9 0.3 1.2 −0.6 1.5
Personal consumption expenditures −4.3 2.4 1.2 −0.9 −3.3 −2.5 −0.3 2.5 0.2 −2.1 1.4
Goods −11.2 −4.2 −2.6 −3.9 −5.1 −0.5 2.0 2.1 −0.9 −9.8 7.6
Durable goods −15.7 −9.0 −4.3 −3.9 −3.1 8.3 4.8 0.9 −1.7 −15.2 9.4
Nondurable goods −3.8 2.6 −0.6 −3.8 −7.4 −11.3 −2.1 4.0 0.4 −1.8 5.3
Foods, feeds, and beverages −3.8 3.9 3.6 1.9 −0.6 −4.0 −1.6 −1.8 −2.0 −1.5 9.3
Other nondurable goods −3.8 1.2 −5.0 −10.1 −15.9 −22.5 −3.0 16.9 5.2 −2.3 −2.5
Services 0.5 −1.8 2.3 0.7 0.2 −1.2 0.6 2.8 0.8 −4.9 −8.2
Housing and utilities −3.3 4.5 −1.0 0.8 −1.7 −0.2 0.9 2.5 0.0 −1.9 1.2
Health care 10.9 4.4 3.8 9.1 6.4 1.2 −2.0 7.4 3.5 −6.2 −15.2
Food services and accommodations 2.4 −6.5 5.5 −0.8 0.2 0.8 2.8 2.8 1.9 −10.0 −32.6
Other services −0.3 −5.2 2.5 −1.0 −0.2 −4.5 −0.3 1.4 −0.2 −3.4 3.2
Net foreign travel …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Private fixed investment −12.1 −17.4 −3.5 −6.1 −28.8 3.1 3.0 0.1 0.2 6.3 51.4
Change in private inventories …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Net exports of goods and services …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. …….. ……..
Exports 1.5 −10.0 −4.1 −16.7 −78.4 −16.3 17.9 −35.6 20.7 26.1 −19.6
Goods 1.9 −9.7 −4.3 −17.9 −84.6 −26.5 29.6 −70.6 96.9 110.7 −22.5
Services −4.0 −13.0 −1.6 −1.3 2.4 2.7 4.1 2.6 0.5 −15.7 −15.5
Imports 5.5 −7.1 −7.8 −13.1 −78.2 −10.2 11.0 −39.6 69.3 26.4 1.8
Goods 6.1 −7.2 −8.0 −13.2 −79.0 −10.9 11.9 −42.3 77.4 26.4 0.2
Services −17.6 −4.0 0.9 −5.2 −44.8 0.4 −1.2 −2.8 9.7 26.2 22.7
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 0.8 5.1 5.1 −5.9 −9.1 −1.5 −2.8 −2.2 −0.6 12.5 36.8
Federal 1.0 11.7 24.8 −8.6 −3.8 −2.2 −13.0 5.0 −3.8 38.2 28.0
Territorial 0.8 4.2 2.4 −5.5 −10.1 −1.4 −0.9 −3.4 −0.1 8.2 38.7p
  1. (p) Fiscal year 2018 audited financial statements for the central government and various independent agencies were not available in time for incorporation into these estimates. Preliminary estimates of territorial government spending are based on information collected from budget documents and reports on federal grant expenditures, including disaster assistance grants.
Table D.1.4. Contributions to Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product, U.S. Virgin Islands
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Percent change:                      
Gross domestic product 0.9 −6.6 0.9 −8.2 −15.0 −5.8 −0.9 0.3 1.2 −0.6 1.5
Percentage points:                      
Personal consumption expenditures −2.28 1.26 0.68 −0.48 −1.80 −1.58 −0.23 1.72 0.16 −1.46 0.94
Goods −3.45 −1.22 −0.76 −1.06 −1.36 −0.16 0.65 0.69 −0.27 −3.10 2.18
Durable goods −3.01 −1.53 −0.69 −0.59 −0.46 1.36 0.92 0.17 −0.32 −2.87 1.51
Nondurable goods −0.44 0.31 −0.07 −0.47 −0.91 −1.51 −0.27 0.52 0.05 −0.23 0.67
Foods, feeds, and beverages −0.23 0.24 0.23 0.12 −0.04 −0.33 −0.14 −0.16 −0.17 −0.13 0.78
Other nondurable goods −0.22 0.07 −0.30 −0.59 −0.87 −1.19 −0.13 0.68 0.22 −0.10 −0.11
Services 0.23 −0.89 1.17 0.34 0.10 −0.73 0.42 1.92 0.58 −3.40 −5.46
Housing and utilities −0.46 0.64 −0.15 0.13 −0.27 −0.05 0.20 0.54 0.01 −0.40 0.27
Health care 0.47 0.22 0.21 0.49 0.37 0.08 −0.16 0.59 0.29 −0.52 −1.20
Food services and accommodations 0.28 −0.80 0.66 −0.10 0.03 0.12 0.44 0.49 0.32 −1.74 −5.19
Other services −0.06 −0.95 0.46 −0.18 −0.03 −0.89 −0.06 0.30 −0.04 −0.73 0.67
Net foreign travel 0.94 3.37 0.27 0.24 −0.54 −0.69 −1.30 −0.89 −0.14 5.04 4.22
Private fixed investment −1.44 −1.89 −0.32 −0.52 −2.25 0.20 0.23 0.01 0.02 0.47 4.14
Change in private inventories 17.57 2.99 −11.21 8.93 0.12 0.88 −3.86 −5.97 20.46 2.31 −0.58
Net exports of goods and services −13.12 −10.21 10.38 −14.50 −8.86 −4.93 3.77 5.14 −19.33 −5.34 −14.53
Exports 5.39 −34.53 −11.66 −55.71 −246.37 −12.73 11.88 −24.71 8.36 12.50 −12.88
Goods 6.44 −31.08 −11.26 −55.42 −246.91 −13.45 10.64 −25.55 8.20 17.52 −8.68
Services −1.05 −3.45 −0.40 −0.29 0.54 0.72 1.24 0.83 0.16 −5.02 −4.20
Imports −18.51 24.31 22.04 41.21 237.51 7.80 −8.11 29.85 −27.69 −17.84 −1.65
Goods −19.95 24.03 22.10 40.84 234.36 7.82 −8.17 29.70 −27.23 −16.49 −0.10
Services 1.44 0.28 −0.06 0.37 3.15 −0.02 0.06 0.15 −0.46 −1.36 −1.55
Government consumption expenditures 
and gross investment		 0.19 1.22 1.37 −1.60 −2.23 −0.38 −0.79 −0.64 −0.16 3.40 11.55
Federal 0.03 0.33 0.81 −0.34 −0.14 −0.09 −0.57 0.20 −0.15 1.47 1.52
Territorial 0.17 0.89 0.56 −1.26 −2.09 −0.30 −0.22 −0.84 −0.01 1.93 10.03p
  1. (p) Fiscal year 2018 audited financial statements for the central government and various independent agencies were not available in time for incorporation into these estimates. Preliminary estimates of territorial government spending are based on information collected from budget documents and reports on federal grant expenditures, including disaster assistance grants.
Table D.1.5. Percent Change from Preceding Year in Prices for Gross Domestic Product, U.S. Virgin Islands
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Gross domestic product −12.3 5.9 2.3 6.4 13.7 −2.5 −2.9 3.2 2.1 1.2 0.8
Personal consumption expenditures 5.9 0.1 1.3 4.9 3.6 2.5 0.4 0.8 1.0 2.2p 2.3p
  1. (p) Complete information on the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Virgin Islands Consumer Price Index was not available in time for incorporation into the estimates of gross domestic product.
Table D.2.1. Value Added by Industry, U.S. Virgin Islands
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 4,803 4,250 4,203 4,339 4,239 4,095 3,762 3,622 3,748 3,873 3,893
Private industries 4,020 3,443 3,374 3,461 3,398 3,331 3,006 2,867 2,945 3,040 3,079
Goods-producing industries 1,487 993 1,042 1,035 955 824 593 519 513 509 583
Services-producing industries 2,533 2,450 2,332 2,426 2,443 2,507 2,413 2,348 2,432 2,531 2,496
Wholesale and retail trade 449 435 408 413 422 411 402 393 386 381 352
Accommodation and food services 405 424 400 428 436 450 463 489 517 531 487
Other services, except government 1,678 1,591 1,524 1,585 1,585 1,646 1,547 1,466 1,529 1,619 1,656
Government 783 807 829 878 841 764 757 755 804 833 814
Federal 120 125 130 141 139 139 140 136 145 143 142
Territorial 663 682 699 738 702 626 617 619 658 689 672

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

Table D.2.2. Real Value Added by Industry, U.S. Virgin Islands
[Millions of chained (2009) dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 4,460 4,502 4,203 4,241 3,895 3,310 3,117 3,090 3,098 3,133 3,114
Private industries 3,634 3,661 3,374 3,408 3,086 2,568 2,410 2,408 2,394 2,421 2,427
Goods-producing industries 1,012 1,138 1,042 1,019 774 463 335 284 272 268 300
Services-producing industries 2,646 2,523 2,332 2,389 2,324 2,233 2,255 2,341 2,347 2,386 2,335
Wholesale and retail trade 464 442 408 408 410 388 377 365 352 349 325
Accommodation and food services 433 452 400 429 437 434 434 446 449 453 406
Other services, except government 1,747 1,629 1,524 1,552 1,479 1,414 1,446 1,534 1,551 1,591 1,617
Government 833 841 829 833 808 755 719 690 713 722 695
Federal 127 129 130 135 131 130 130 123 127 124 121
Territorial 707 712 699 697 677 624 589 567 585 598 574
Table D.2.3. Percent Changes in Real Value Added by Industry, U.S. Virgin Islands
[Percent]
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gross domestic product 0.9 −6.6 0.9 −8.2 −15.0 −5.8 −0.9 0.3 1.2 −0.6
Private industries 0.8 −7.9 1.0 −9.5 −16.8 −6.2 −0.1 −0.5 1.1 0.3
Goods-producing industries 12.5 −8.5 −2.1 −24.1 −40.2 −27.5 −15.4 −4.2 −1.5 12.1
Services-producing industries −4.6 −7.6 2.4 −2.7 −3.9 1.0 3.8 0.3 1.7 −2.1
Wholesale and retail trade −4.7 −7.9 0.2 0.3 −5.3 −2.9 −3.2 −3.5 −0.8 −6.8
Accommodation and food services 4.4 −11.5 7.1 2.0 −0.8 0.0 2.8 0.8 0.8 −10.3
Other services, except government −6.8 −6.4 1.8 −4.7 −4.4 2.3 6.1 1.1 2.6 1.7
Government 0.9 −1.4 0.4 −3.0 −6.5 −4.7 −4.1 3.3 1.3 −3.8
Federal 1.8 0.9 4.2 −3.3 −0.5 −0.3 −5.5 3.6 −2.5 −2.8
Territorial 0.7 −1.8 −0.3 −2.9 −7.7 −5.7 −3.8 3.3 2.1 −4.0
Table D.2.4. Contributions to Percent Change in Real Gross Domestic Product by Industry, U.S. Virgin Islands
  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Percent change:                    
Gross domestic product 0.9 −6.6 0.9 −8.2 −15.0 −5.8 −0.9 0.3 1.2 −0.6
Percentage points:                    
Private industries 0.65 −6.38 0.82 −7.63 −13.88 −4.97 −0.09 −0.43 0.88 0.20
Goods-producing industries 3.27 −2.08 −0.53 −6.13 −11.76 −5.55 −2.51 −0.60 −0.20 1.59
Services-producing industries −2.62 −4.29 1.35 −1.50 −2.12 0.58 2.42 0.17 1.08 −1.40
Wholesale and retail trade −0.47 −0.79 0.02 0.03 −0.49 −0.30 −0.34 −0.38 −0.09 −0.66
Accommodation and food services 0.39 −1.15 0.66 0.19 −0.07 −0.01 0.36 0.10 0.11 −1.42
Other services, except government −2.54 −2.36 0.66 −1.71 −1.56 0.88 2.41 0.44 1.05 0.69
Government 0.16 −0.26 0.08 −0.58 −1.16 −0.91 −0.85 0.70 0.27 −0.82
Federal 0.05 0.02 0.13 −0.10 −0.02 −0.01 −0.21 0.13 −0.10 −0.10
Territorial 0.11 −0.28 −0.05 −0.48 −1.15 −0.90 −0.64 0.56 0.37 −0.72

Note. Percentage-point contributions do not sum to the percent change in real gross domestic product (GDP) because of rounding and differences in source data used to estimate GDP by industry and the expenditures measure of real GDP.

Table D.2.5. Compensation of Employees by Industry, U.S. Virgin Islands
[Millions of dollars]
  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Total compensation 2,139 2,185 2,114 2,245 2,198 2,042 1,880 1,881 1,920 1,969 1,985
Private industries 1,399 1,411 1,318 1,393 1,386 1,319 1,157 1,150 1,151 1,182 1,197
Goods-producing industries 369 340 309 317 302 275 110 102 109 108 166
Services-producing industries 1,030 1,070 1,008 1,076 1,084 1,045 1,047 1,048 1,042 1,074 1,030
Wholesale and retail trade 201 205 197 198 209 209 236 222 212 206 196
Accommodation and food services 208 217 191 204 208 212 214 221 243 247 233
Other services, except government 621 649 620 674 668 624 597 604 588 622 601
Government 741 774 797 852 812 722 724 731 769 787 788
Federal 118 123 129 140 138 137 137 133 142 139 137
Territorial 622 651 668 712 674 585 586 598 627 648 651

Note. Detail may not add to total because of rounding.

This project represents an important step toward achieving a long-term goal of BEA and OIA—to integrate these territories into the full set of U.S. NIPAs. A primary obstacle to realizing this goal is the lack of coverage of these four territories by most of the major surveys used by BEA to produce estimates of GDP and related economic measures.5 Until the territories are included in these surveys, BEA will continue to depend heavily on the assistance and information provided by each of the territorial governments and on continued support from OIA.

Other future enhancements to the estimates for the four territories (subject to data availability and funding) include developing supplementary measures that are included in the full set of the U.S. NIPAs, such as personal income and personal saving rates.

BEA will conduct a comprehensive update of GDP for American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands this year. Estimates of GDP will be revised to reflect methodological improvements and the availability of more complete data over time, in some cases dating back to 2002. Information from the Census Bureau 2017 Economic Census of Island Areas (ECIA), the most comprehensive industry data available for the U.S. territories, will be incorporated at this time.6 BEA currently plans to release these estimates, in addition to new GDP estimates for 2019, beginning in the fall of 2020. GDP by industry and compensation by industry estimates for 2018 will also be released.

 

The methodologies used to estimate GDP and GDP by industry for American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are consistent with the methods used to estimate GDP and GDP by industry for the United States (excluding the territories). Information from the ECIA was used to establish levels of GDP for each territory for 2002, 2007, and 2012; for other years, annual indicator series were developed and used to estimate the components of GDP and of GDP by industry.

Gross domestic product

Consumer spending. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) consists primarily of purchases of goods and services by households.7 Economic census data on the consumer shares of sales by industry were used to benchmark the estimates of household purchases of most goods and selected services.

Annual growth rates for most goods were derived using data on imports of goods and, where available, sales by businesses. For American Samoa, the CNMI, and Guam, data on imports of goods were provided by the territorial government.8 For the U.S. Virgin Islands, data on imports of goods were available from the Census Bureau’s U.S. Trade with Puerto Rico and U.S. Possessions (FT895) and U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services (FT900).9

Estimates that were not benchmarked to economic census data included housing services, utilities services, and financial services, which were estimated independently. Housing services were estimated using information on the number of occupied housing units and average rental rates reported in the Census of Population and Housing. Utilities services were estimated using revenue data reported by government-owned utilities and by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Other services not covered by the economic census—such as financial services furnished without payment, insurance, and sales by government—were estimated using data from private trade sources and government financial reports.

Private investment. Private investment consists of spending on new fixed assets—equipment, software, and structures by private businesses—and improvements to existing assets. It also includes the construction of new residential structures and the improvements to these structures.10 Economic census data on businesses’ capital expenditures on fixed assets were used to benchmark the estimates of private fixed investment for each territory. Annual growth rates were derived using building permit data, construction industry receipts and wages, and imports of capital goods.

Net exports of goods and services. The estimates of exports of goods to the United States from the four territories reflected data from the Census Bureau’s U.S. Trade with Puerto Rico and U.S. Possessions (FT895). Estimates of exports of goods from American Samoa, the CNMI, and Guam to the rest of the world were based on information compiled by the territorial governments. Estimates of exports of goods from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the rest of the world were based on data from the Census Bureau’s U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services (FT900).

Estimates of imports of goods for American Samoa and the CNMI were based on values or quantities of imported commodities reported by the territorial governments. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, estimates of imports of goods reflected data from the FT895 and FT900. For Guam, data on imports of goods are limited, particularly after 2015; the available data were supplemented with other information reported by the Guam government, including sales by businesses.

Information on imports of services and on exports of services other than tourism was limited. Estimates of exports of tourism services for American Samoa were based on visitor arrival data provided by the territorial government and the Federal Aviation Authority. Estimates of exports of tourism services for the CNMI and Guam were based on survey data on tourist expenditures and visitor arrivals provided by the territorial government visitors’ authorities. For the CNMI, these data were supplemented with casino gambling revenues reported in company financial statements. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, the estimate of exports of tourism services was based on expenditures of cruise ship passengers available from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, total visitor expenditures provided by the Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research, U.S. Virgin Islands visitor exit survey data, and gross business revenue data for select industries.

Government consumption expenditures and gross investment. The estimates of government expenditures were prepared for the territorial government sector and for the federal government sector. The primary sources of information for the territorial government estimates were financial statements of the primary government and of the government component units.11 The primary data sources for the federal government estimates were the Census Bureau Consolidated Federal Funds Report and the Federal Procurement Data System.12 Information on military pay was provided by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Estimates of real GDP. Inflation-adjusted estimates of total GDP and its components were derived within a chain-type Fisher index framework.13 For most of the detailed components of GDP, inflation-adjusted estimates were calculated by deflating each component using an appropriate price index. Consumer price indexes produced by each territorial government were used to deflate most of the detailed components of PCE. Inflation-adjusted estimates for most components other than PCE were calculated using U.S. prices from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

GDP by industry

Current-dollar estimates. The estimates of GDP by industry were prepared for broad industry groups using a methodology that was developed to incorporate data from the ECIA. Current-dollar value added for most private industries was extrapolated using indicators such as gross business revenues and compensation. For select private industries, data were available to separately extrapolate gross output and intermediate inputs. These industries included the manufacturing sector in American Samoa and the CNMI and the goods-producing sector in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Current-dollar value added for the government sector was prepared for the territorial government sector and the federal government sector; the primary sources of information were the data sources identified in “Government consumption expenditures and gross investment” above.

Real estimates. Inflation-adjusted estimates of GDP by industry were derived within a chain-type Fisher index framework. For most industry sectors, the statistics on chained-dollar value added were prepared using the single-deflation method. Under this method, current-dollar value added of an industry is divided by a gross output price index.14 In industries for which data were available to separately estimate gross output and intermediate inputs, a double-deflation method was used. Under the double-deflation method, current-dollar gross output and current-dollar intermediate inputs are deflated separately, and real value added is computed as the difference between real gross output and real intermediate inputs. Price indexes and other value and quantity data produced by each territorial government, in addition to U.S. prices, were used in the deflation of value added, gross output, and intermediate inputs.

Compensation of employees. Information on payroll and fringe benefits from the economic census was used to benchmark the estimates of compensation by industry. For American Samoa, the CNMI, and Guam, annual growth rates were based on payroll data from a number of sources, including wage information from the Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns and administrative and survey-based wage data provided by the territorial governments. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, wage information from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages was used.

Aya Hamano of BEA oversaw the preparation of the territorial economic accounts for American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

From BEA, Christina D. Hovland-Battikha and Amy K. Filipek prepared the estimates for all four territories. Brian C. Moyer, Director of BEA, provided overall supervision. Other significant contributors from BEA were Benjamin Kavanaugh and Andrew J. Pinard.

The Economy-Wide Statistics Division of the U.S. Census Bureau provided data from the ECIA.

From the U.S. Department of the Interior, Nikolao Pula, Director of OIA, and Basil C. Ottley, OIA Policy Director, provided support throughout the project. Lydia Faleafine-Nomura of OIA served as liaison between BEA and the American Samoa government.

BEA would also like to thank the governor’s offices of the four territories for their contributions. Governor Lolo M. Moliga and Lieutenant Governor Lemanu P. Mauga of American Samoa; Governor Ralph D.L.G. Torres and Lieutenant Governor Arnold I. Palacios of the CNMI; Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lieutenant Governor Joshua F. Tenorio of Guam; and Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza A. Roach of the U.S. Virgin Islands contributed guidance and support throughout the project.

Other key contributors from each territory are listed below.

American Samoa: Keniseli F. Lafaele, Director, Department of Commerce (DOC); Uili Leauanae, Deputy Director, DOC; Meleisea Vai Filiga, Chief Statistician, DOC; Mine Timoteo, Assistant Chief Statistician, DOC; Alex Zodiacal, Assistant to Administrator/Economic Development Division Manager, DOC; Ueligitone Tonumaipe’a, Treasurer, Department of Treasury; Vaaimamao Poufa, Tax Manager, Tax Office, Department of Treasury; Keith Gebauer, Deputy Director for Customs, Department of Treasury; Catherine Saelua, Director, Budget Office; Lewis Wolman, Executive Director, American Samoa Telecommunications Authority; Wallon Young, Acting CEO, American Samoa Power Authority; Faumuina J. Faumuina, CEO, LBJ Medical Center; Rosevonne M. Pato, President, American Samoa Community College; and Sione Kava, Petroleum Officer, Office of Petroleum Management.

CNMI: Mark O. Rabauliman, Secretary, DOC; Justin H. Andrew, Director, DOC; Fermin C. Sakisat, Computer Specialist III, DOC; Christopher S. Tenorio, Executive Director, Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA); Skye L. Aldan, Comptroller, CPA; Christopher Concepcion, Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority; Larissa Larson, Secretary, Department of Finance (DOF); Maria White, Disclosure Officer, DOF; Lt. Robert Reyes, Customs Officer, DOF; Andrew Reese, Chief Financial Officer, Northern Marianas College; Glen Muna, Commissioner of Education, Public School System (PSS); George Palican, Finance Director, PSS; Violita Diaz and Michelle A. Camacho, Administrative Assistants, Office of the Public Auditor; Gary Camacho, Executive Director, Commonwealth Utility Corporation (CUC); Corina Magofna, Fiscal/Budget Officer, CUC; Rodolfo Urbano, Chief Accountant, CUC; and Esther Muna, CEO, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation.

Guam: Anthony M. Babauta, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor; Bertha Duenas, Chief Fiscal Advisor, Office of the Governor; Tyrone J. Taitano, Director, Bureau of Statistics and Plans; Edward M. Birn, Director, Department of Administration; Dafne Mansapit-Shimizu, Director, Department of Revenue and Taxation; Lester Carlson, Jr., Acting Director, Bureau of Budget and Management Research; Melanie Mendiola, Administrator, Guam Economic Development Authority; Benjamin J.F. Cruz, Public Auditor, Office of Public Accountability; Pilar Laguana, President, Guam Visitors Bureau; David Dell’Isola, Director, Department of Labor; Gary Hiles, Chief Economist, Department of Labor; and Albert Perez, Senior Economist, Department of Revenue and Taxation.

U.S. Virgin Islands: Bernadette V.M. Melendez, Director, Virgin Islands Bureau of Economic Research (VIBER); Donnie Dorsett, Senior Policy Analyst, VIBER; Marvin Pickering EA, PHR, Director, Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue; Tamarah Parson-Smalls, Chief Counsel, Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue; Joanna Meyers-Rhymer, Deputy Director of Operations, Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue; Carlene Prosper, Data Base Administrator, Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue; Nellon Bowry, Director, Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget; Valdamier Collens, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Finance; Clarina Modeste-Elliott, Assistant Executive Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Finance; Laurel Payne, Director of Treasury, Virgin Islands Department of Finance; Gary Halyard, Director of Virgin Islands Bureau of Labor Statistics Department of Labor; and Sandra Rey, Senior Research Analyst, Virgin Islands Department of Labor.

 

 

  1. OIA is the federal agency that manages the federal government’s relations with the governments of American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It works with these territories to encourage economic development, transparency of government, financial stability, and accountability.
  2. BEA released these estimates between August and December of 2019. Individual news releases for each of the territories are available on BEA’s website.
  3. In this article, “consumer spending” refers to “personal consumption expenditures” and “government spending” refers to “government consumption expenditures and gross investment.”
  4. The industry detail shown for GDP by industry and compensation by industry varies depending on the territory.
  5. These surveys include merchant wholesale trade and retail trade surveys; the annual capital expenditures survey; value of construction put in place; the service annual survey; the annual survey of manufactures; manufacturers’ shipments, inventories, and orders; and survey of government finances.
  6. The 2017 ECIA data for the above four territories were released on January 28, 2020.
  7. A small portion of personal consumption expenditures consists of expenses of nonprofit institutions serving households.
  8. Data on imports of goods for Guam were limited, particularly after 2015.
  9. It was assumed that most goods purchased by consumers were imported.
  10. For American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, private investment also includes inventory investment.
  11. Fiscal year 2018 audited financial statements for the U.S. Virgin Islands central government and various independent agencies were not available in time for incorporation into these estimates. Estimates of 2018 spending reflected information collected from budget documents and reports on federal grant expenditures.
  12. The Consolidated Federal Funds Report was discontinued in 2012 following the publication of the fiscal year 2010 report.
  13. For additional information, see J. Steven Landefeld, Brent R. Moulton, and Cindy M. Vojtech, “Chained-Dollar Indexes: Issues, Tips on Their Use, and Upcoming Changes,” Survey of Current Business 83 (November 2003):8–17.
  14. Single deflation approximates the results obtained by double deflation when an industry’s intermediate inputs prices increase at about the same rate as its output prices.