Real gross domestic product (GDP) for Guam increased by 5.1 percent in 2022, following a 2.1 percent increase in 2021, according to statistics released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). These figures were developed under the Statistical Improvement Program, funded by the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The growth in real GDP was driven by increases in exports, private fixed investment, government spending, and personal consumption expenditures. Imports also increased.
Exports of goods and services rose by 150.4 percent. This surge was primarily due to a 262.0 percent increase in exports of services, largely from visitor spending. Data from the Guam Visitors Bureau indicated that visitor arrivals grew by over 300 percent.
Private fixed investment saw a 14.7 percent rise, reflecting growth in equipment and structures with notable projects including a 60-megawatt solar farm, resort renovations, and new retail outlets.
Government spending increased by 1.4 percent, driven mainly by federal government expenditure which offset a decrease in territorial government spending. The U.S. Department of Defense construction projects contributed significantly to this growth through ongoing developments such as housing and dining facilities for a new Marine Corps base.
Personal consumption expenditures grew by 1.2 percent due to widespread consumer spending supported by rising compensation and direct cash assistance from the territorial government.
In 2021, real GDP had increased by 2.1 percent with newly available data showing that private sector activities were the main contributors to this growth. The private sector expanded by 4.4 percent due to growth in industries like health care, social assistance, financial services, and construction.
The revised estimates reflect an inflation-adjusted GDP growth pattern similar to previous estimates despite some data lags affecting components of GDP for 2022 being preliminary.
For further details on data sources used for these estimates, refer to "Summary of Methodologies: Gross Domestic Product for American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands."
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