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Gross Domestic Product: The Palestinian GDP grew by 0.4% between the fourth quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011, an increase consistent with the trend of the previous year. Conversely, GDP per capita decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous quarter, however, increased by 5% compared with the first quarter 2010.

The labor market: The number of workers in the West Bank and Gaza increased from 767.2 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 780.2 thousand in the first quarter of 2011. Distribution of workers by region is as follows: 61.3% in the West Bank, 28.7% in the Gaza Strip, and 10% in Israel and Israeli settlements. The unemployment rate decreased from 23.4% in the fourth quarter of last year to 21.7% in first quarter of this year. Furthermore, the average wage of workers in the Gaza Strip increased by some 9% this quarter. Consequently, the average daily wage rose to 64.4 NIS, a 4.9 NIS increase from the final quarter of 2010. 

Public Finance: In the first quarter of 2011 domestic revenues grew to $573 million dollars, an increase of 33.8% from the fourth quarter of 2010. Additionally, public expenditures dropped to $757 million, decreasing 12.2% from last year. The combination of these two factors reduced the first quarter budget deficit to $141.3 million, a significant improvement from the $358.7 budget shortfall of the fourth quarter in 2010.

The banking sector: Figures demonstrate a constant improvement in the Palestinian banking sector in the first quarter of 2011. The net assets of banks operating in the Palestinian territories (18 banks) were up by 1.6% from the fourth quarter of last year. Currently, direct credit facilities form the largest portion of the assets held by Palestinian banks. Finally, liabilities were also up, increasing by 1.5% from last quarter.

Palestine Securities Exchange: At 49.28 million, the number of shares traded during the first quarter of 2011 rose 5.6% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. Yet, while the number of shares traded was up, the value of shares traded declined by 12.6%. This decline was the result of a fall in stock prices in some sectors, particularly the services sector which accounted for nearly 33% of the total shares traded in the first quarter of 2011. At the end of the first quarter of 2011 the Al-Quds index closed at 497.67 points, a jump of 1.65% over the fourth quarter of 2010.