Puerto Rico's economy shrank 0.2% in June compared to May, according to the commonwealth's economic activity index.
June's index value was 1.8% lower than the index value a year earlier.
Compared to June 2015, in June 2016 two of the index's four components were up and two were down. Gasoline consumption was estimated to have increased by 3.4%. Electrical power generation increased by 0.4%. On the other hand, total non-farm payroll employment declined by 0.8% and cement sales declined by 19.5%.
The non-farm payroll employment data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics establishment survey of employers. The bureau also releases statistics on Puerto Rico's employment based on a household survey. This showed that employment in June was up 2% compared to a year earlier. The discrepancy between the household and establishment surveys may be because the household survey includes self-employment and agricultural employment and the establishment survey doesn't.
The economic activity index is now down 19.4% from its all-time high in mid-2005.
