February 05, 2018 Bank of Jamaica is aware of reports of investments in virtual currencies and the use of these types of instruments for the settlement of economic transactions. In light of these reports, the Bank is advising the public to exercise caution in the use of virtual currencies (cryptocurrencies) given the associated risks and
February 5, 2018 The index of the volume of retail trade, one of the many matrices used to check the impulse of consumer purchase, has declined in December 2017 compared with November 2017, as reported by Eurostat. The index measures the evolution of the turnover in retail trade. The statistical office of the European Union
February 2, 2018 U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today (2nd February 2018) that employment numbers for nonfarm payroll increased by 200,000 in January. However, unemployment rate remains unchanged at 4.1%. Employment continued to trend up in construction, food services and drinking places, health care, and manufacturing. Construction added 36,000 or 18% of the 200,000
February 01, 2018. For the period of April 2017 to December 2017, the GOJ reported Total Revenues & Grants of $392.16 billion, $15.72 billion more than the government’s projection. Furthermore, year over year, this represents an increase of approximately 11.4% relative to the $352.04 billion recorded for the corresponding period in 2016. ‘Tax Revenue’, ‘Non-Tax
February 1, 2018 The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm business sector labor productivity ( or output per hour) decreased 0.1% for the fourth quarter of 2017; this as the number of hours worked and the level of output increased 3.3% and 3.2% respectively. Productivity was up 1.1% for the 12-month ending fourth
January 31, 2018 Civilian Workers The U.S. Bureau of labour Statistics reported that compensation cost for civilian workers increased 0.6% for the 3-month period ending in December 2017. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.5%, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased
January 30, 2018 According to the Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, the seasonally adjusted GDP increased 0.6% in the euro area (EA19) and in the EU28 during the fourth quarter of 2017. GDP for the whole year grew 2.5% in both zones. Gross Domestic Product advanced 2.7% and 2.6% respectively for the
January 29, 2017 Effective 7 February 2018, Bank of Jamaica will reduce the amount that authorised dealers (ADs) and cambios are required to sell to the central bank from their daily purchases of foreign exchange(FX). For both ADs and cambios, the amount required to be sold to the central bank will be reduced by 5.0
January 26, 2018 According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), real gross domestic product (GDP) has increased at an annual rate of 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2017, a reduction from the previous third quarter of 3.2% in 2017. Components that positively contributed to this 2.6% growth rate are personal consumption expenditure (PCE),
January 24, 2018 Government debt to GDP ratio fell to 82.5% in the third quarter (2017) compare to the 83.3% recorded in the second quarter in 2017. Year over year third quarter government debt decreased from 82.9% to 82.5% in 2016 and 2017 respectively. At the end of the third quarter of 2017, debt
