Bermuda’s imports have risen significantly in each of the first three quarters of this year, the latest Government statistics reveal.

The Government’s detailed quarterly statistics show that the value of imported goods increased by 9.8 percent in the third quarter following rises of eight percent and 10.8 percent in the first two quarters of 2013.

The data from the Department of Statistics also reveal a 1.5 percent fall in employment income during the third quarter, leaving wages growth flat for the January through September period.

Imports have slumped over the past five years, amid falling demand in Bermuda’s recession-hit economy. A reversal of that trend could be an indicator that things are improving. The value of imports totalled $735.65 million in the first nine months of this year, a 9.4 percent increase from the $672.63 million recorded by the same stage of last year.

Fuel imports during the first three quarters of 2013 were $116.64 million, up a staggering 47 percent from the $79.35 million brought in during the same period of 2012.

The statistics show therefore, that $37.3 million of the $63 million total increase in imports, was attributable to fuel.

Hefty increases in the cost of fuel imports, driven by higher crude oil prices this year, account for more than half of the increase in imports during 2013.

However, the third quarter also saw notable increase in basic materials (21.1 percent), machinery (16.3 percent) and transport equipment (31.3 percent) imports.

Island residents pocketed around $11.2 million less in wages and salaries during the July through September period this year than they did in the corresponding three months of last year, figures from the Tax Commissioner’s office indicate.

Total Island-wide employment income was $737.2 million during the quarter, compared to $748.4 million in the same period of 2012, with the biggest contributor being international business, which generated $204.7 million, or more than a quarter of the total.

The sectors to see the biggest fall in overall employment income were wholesale and retail (6.3 percent) and hotels and restaurants (3.8 percent).

The construction industry provided a glimmer of hope after a long, bleak period, as wages and salaries rose 7.9 percent during the third quarter. This followed a two percent increase in the second quarter, the first quarter in 17 that this sector had registered an increase.

International business paid out 0.5 percent less to employees than it did in the third quarter of 2012, however this followed an increase of around five percent over the first half of the year for the Island’s main economic pillar.