Economic Highlights
March 19,2018 United States: Trump's Economy Is Still Waiting for the Tax-Cut Boost The U.S. economy is beginning the year with a downshift in growth despite $1.5 trillion in tax cuts signed by President Donald Trump in December. Unexpectedly weak February retail sales pushed down forecasts for the annualized pace of expansion in the first quarter, with the Federal
March 16, 2018 The inflation for the month of February 2018 decreased 0.1% following a negligible movement in January 2018, according to The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). The Consumer Price Index for the month moved to 248.3 relative to the 248.6 reported for January 2018. This decline was largely attributed to the movement in
Brent Oil Brent oil prices increased by 1.93% or US$1.23, as prices rose this week. Oil traded on March 15, 2018 at a price of $65.12 per barrel relative to US$63.89 last week. Brent oil began the year at US$68.07 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices decrease week over week, by 0.22% (JMD$0.27).
March 16, 2018 United States: S&P Stuck in Worst Streak This Year Faces Quadruple Witching Equity bulls frustrated with this year’s longest stretch of declines can blame it on a regular market event happening today. That’s when the quarterly expiration of futures and options on indexes and individual stocks, known as “quadruple witching,” takes place.
March 15,2017 United States: U.S. Retail Sales Unexpectedly Fall for Third Straight Month U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in February for a third month, adding to signs that consumer spending will cool this quarter from the previous period’s hot pace, according to Commerce Department figures released Wednesday. The results indicate consumer spending, the biggest part
March 14, 2018 According to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, employment increased by 0.3% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.2% in the EU28 in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared with the previous quarter. However, this represent a 0.1% fall in employment grow rate from
March 14,2018 United States: U.S. Retail Sales Unexpectedly Fall for Third Straight Month U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fell in February for a third month, adding to signs that consumer spending will cool this quarter from the previous period’s hot pace, according to Commerce Department figures released Wednesday. The results indicate consumer spending, the biggest part
March 13, 2018 United States: U.S. Inflation Picked Up in February Without Any Big Acceleration U.S. consumer prices continued to firm in February, indicating inflation is creeping up toward the Federal Reserve's target without the kind of breakout that would warrant a faster pace of interest-rate hikes. Both the main consumer price index and the
March 12, 2018 United States: Ex-Commerce Chief Says Trump Tariffs Could Damage U.S. Economy The tariffs on steel and aluminium levied by President Donald Trump could damage the U.S. economy and set off trade wars with American allies, according to former commerce secretary Penny Pritzker. “The European Union has come out and said they’re going to go after our
March 9 ,2018 The international Monetary Fund (IMF) hosted a seminar featuring the following topics; Improving Outcomes: Women, Youth and agriculture”, “The Economics of Crime in Jamaica: Youth Opportunities, Violence and a Vicious Cycle” and “The Climate Change, Agriculture Resilience, and Poverty Nexus”. Dr. Constant Lonkeng Ngouanaa opened the proceedings with an explanation regarding the
