May 3, 2018 Labor productivity, or output per hour, for nonfarm business sector increased 0.7 percent during the first quarter of 2018, reflecting an increase of 2.8 percent in output while hours worked increased 2.1 percent. On an annual basis, from the first quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2018, productivity increased 1.3
May 2, 2018 The Federal Open Market Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 percent. According to a press release by the Federal Open Market Committee, “the labor market has continued to strengthen and that economic activity has been rising at a moderate rate. Job gains
May 2, 2018 For the month of March 2018 the euro area unemployment rate remained stable at 8.5% when compared to February 2018, according to the latest report published by Eurostat. However, year over year, unemployment rate fell 0.9% from 9.4% recorded in March 2017. Unemployment is at its lowest in the euro area since
May 1, 2018 According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), unemployment rate continued on a downward trajectory for January 2018 due to decline in the labour force along with a simultaneous increase in employment. In January 2018, unemployment rate was 9.6% a decrease of 3.1% when compared with 12.7% in January 2017, the latest
May 01,2018 For the period of April 2017 to March 2018, the GOJ reported Total Revenues & Grants of $560.84 billion, $7.27 billion more than the Government’s projection. Furthermore, year over year, this represents an increase of approximately 12.2% relative to the $499.88 billion recorded for the corresponding period in 2017. ‘Tax Revenue’ and ‘Capital
April 30, 2018 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the 3-month period ended March 2018, compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.8 percent. Wages and salaries (which make up about 70 percent of compensation costs) increased 0.9 percent, and benefits (which make up the remaining 30 percent of compensation) increased 0.7 percent. Civilian
Brent Oil Brent oil prices increased by 0.48 % or US$0.36, as prices rose this week. Oil traded on April 26, 2018 at a price of $74.69 per barrel relative to US$74.33 last week. Brent oil began the year at US$68.07 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased week over week, by 1.19% (JMD$1.49).
April 26, 2018 Net job loss due to closing and contracting private-sector establishments for third quarter-June 2017 to September 2017- amounted to 140,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in its latest release. According to the Bureau, “gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 7.4 million, an increase of 268,000 jobs lost
April 24,2018 At the end of the fourth quarter of 2017, the government debt to GDP ratio in the euro area (EA19) stood at 86.7%, compared with 88.1% at the end of the third quarter of 2017, according to Eurostat. Likewise, in the EU28, the ratio also decreased from 82.4% to 81.6%. The decrease was
April 23, 2018 According to the latest report by Eurostat, in 2017, the government deficit and debt of both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28 decreased in relative terms compared with 2016. “In the euro area the government deficit to GDP ratio fell from 1.5% in 2016 to 0.9% in 2017,and in the EU28
