The Northern Marianas Department of Commerce says garment sales were down 29 percent and business sales slumped 6 percent for the first quarter of this year.
Likewise the government's general revenues from taxes and fees dropped by 13 percent during the same period, and government expenditure dropped slightly.
The Saipan Tribune quoted the Commerce Dept's Economic Indicators report saying that garment sales totaled 125.8 million US dollars, compared to 177.6 million for the same period last year.
He said the drop in order volumes and declining sale prices have put tremendous pressure on the remaining garment factories.
