Economic Highlights
United States: Xi Hails Important Progress, Says Trade Talks to Resume in U.S. President Xi Jinping said U.S.-China trade talks would continue next week in Washington, as the two sides race to reach a deal that would avert a tariff increase on Chinese goods after March 1. “Negotiations between both sides have achieved important progress
Brent Oil Brent oil prices increased by 3.46% or US$2.15, as prices increased this week relative to the prior week. Oil traded on February 14, 2019 at a price of US$64.34 per barrel relative to US$55 on February 14th, 2019. Brent oil began the year at US$54.91 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased
United States: Krugman Sees Possible U.S. Recession With Little Fed Wiggle Room Nobel laureate Paul Krugman said the U.S. economy may be heading into a recession at a time when the Federal Reserve doesn’t have the firepower to properly combat a slump. “There seems to be an accumulation of smaller problems and the underlying backdrop
Date: February 8, 2019 Net International Reserves- January 2019 Jamaica’s Net International Reserves (NIR) totaled US$3,030.94 million as at January 2019, reflecting an increase of US$25.53 million relative to the US$3,005.41 million reported as at the end of December 2018 (see figure 1). Changes in the NIR resulted from an increase in Foreign Assets of US$29.29
United States: Trump Says He Won’t Meet Xi Jinping Before Tariff Deadline President Donald Trump said he won’t meet Chinese President Xi Jinping before a March 1 deadline to avert higher U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, intensifying fears the two won’t strike a deal before the end of a 90-day truce. Trump responded “No” and
Brent Oil Brent oil prices increased by 2.13% or US$1.30, as prices increased this week relative to the prior week. Oil traded on February 07, 2019 at a price of US$62.19 per barrel relative to US$60.89 on January 31, 2019. Brent oil began the year at US$53.80 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased
United States: U.S. Jobless Claims Fall Less Than Expected After Shutdown Ends Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits fell by less than expected last week, signaling it may take longer for the labor market to return to its previous trend following the partial government shutdown. Jobless claims declined to 234,000 in the week ended Feb. 2,
Date: February 06, 2019 According to the latest report published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, “In December 2018 compared with November 2018, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 1.6% in the euro area (EA19) and by 1.4% in the EU28.” However, in November, the retail trade volume increased
United States: U.S. Shutdown Robs Wednesday's Productivity Report of Main Gauge The Labor Department will publish new data on U.S. productivity Wednesday, though the report will lack the main measure because of the government shutdown. The fourth-quarter productivity and costs release due at 8:30 a.m. in Washington will include manufacturing productivity for the period, though
United States: Tariffs May Live On as Trump’s Best Bet to Enforce a China Deal American tariffs are what got China to the negotiating table in the first place, the Trump administration argues. Those same tariffs may be needed even after a trade deal is reached –- to ensure that China sticks to it. That’s
