Economy (Northern Mariana Islands)
==================================


     Overview:
         The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. An
         agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitles the islands to $228 million
         for capital development, government operations, and special programs.
         Another major source of income is the tourist industry, which employs about
         10% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural
         sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts,
         breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale in nature - mostly
         handicrafts and fish processing.
     GNP:
         purchasing power equivalent - $165 million, per capita $3,498; real growth
         rate NA% (1982); note - GNP numbers reflect US spending
     Inflation rate (consumer prices):
         NA%
     Unemployment rate:
         NA%
     Budget:
         revenues $NA; expenditures $112.2 million, including capital expenditures of
         $NA (February 1990)
     Exports:
         $153.9 million (1989)
       commodities:
         manufactured goods, garments, vegetables, beef, pork
       partners:
         NA
     Imports:
         $313.7 million, a 43% increase over previous year (1989)
       commodities:
         NA
       partners:
         NA
     External debt:
         none
     Industrial production:
         growth rate NA%
     Electricity:
         25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1990)
     Industries:
         tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
     Agriculture:
         coffee, coconuts, fruits, tobacco, cattle
     Economic aid:
         none
     Currency:
         US currency is used
     Exchange rates:
         US currency is used
     Fiscal year:
         1 October - 30 September