USVI.  Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2009

Many of the longstanding and deeply-rooted challenges we face as a government and as a community were made worst this past year by economic and financial developments that are well beyond either our control or even our ability to significantly mitigate. All Virgin Islander, individually, as well as their government, have been hurt by the rising price of oil as well as by the "bursting of the credit bubble" in the U.S. and globally.

Be it the impact on the price of utilities or transportation or the disruption of the real estate markets and the slackening of the business investment generally, we have all been affected. We do not anticipate a significant change in the economic environment of the U.S. and therefore its impact on our economic affairs, any time soon. However, we believe there is some incredible evidence that by the commencement of calendar year 2009 there could be some improvemnt in consumer confidence and from that we draw hope that improved economic conditions will follow sooner rather than later.
Source: Government of the USVI