Preliminary overview of the economies of the Caribbean 2015-2016

Abstract

World economic growth was somewhat disappointing in 2015 due to a series of negative shockswhich affected the performance of a number of emerging and advanced economies. Among these were the continuing decline in commodity prices, periods of financial market volatility, lower capital flowsand subdued global trade (World Bank Global Economic Prospects 2016). The Caribbean has been negatively affected by the decline in commodity prices given the weight of such items in the exports of good producing economies. Overall regional growth declined from 2.8 per cent in 2014 to 1.5 per cent in 2015. Growth is expected to increase to 2.6 per cent in 2016.