Economic Highlights
February 19,2018 United States: U.S. Treasury Official Says Economists Lowballing Tax-Cut Impact Economists are underestimating how rapidly the U.S. economy will grow from tax cuts that are encouraging companies to invest and create jobs, a senior Treasury official said. “Despite the stock-market volatility, the economy is enjoying a period of relative strength and prosperity in
February 16, 2018 The inflation for the month of January 2018 recorded a negligible movement following an upward movement of 0.6% in December 2017, according to The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). The Consumer Price Index for the month remained flat at 248.6 relative to the 248.7 reported for December 2017. This was as a result
February 16,2016 United States: Selloff Grips Credit Funds as Rate Fears Ripple Through Markets Corporate bond investors finally joined a selloff that has shaken stocks to Treasuries as investors spooked by U.S. interest-rate risk headed for the exits. Investors pulled $14.1 billion from debt funds, the fifth-largest stretch of redemptions in the week through Feb.
February 12, 2018 In 2017, there were 7 major work stoppages comprising 1,000 or more workers and lasting at least one shift, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. This represents the second lowest number of major work stoppages recorded in a year, with the lowest annual total being attributed to 2009 with 5. Additionally,
February 08,2018 Jamaica’s Net International Reserves (NIR) totaled US$3,203.69 million as at January 2018, reflecting a decrease of US$4.93 million relative to the US$3,208.29 million reported as at the end of December 2017 (see figure 1). Changes in the NIR resulted from an increase in Foreign Assets of US$8.34 million to total US$3,789.51 million compared to
February 6, 2018 US international trade deficit has expanded for the month of December of last year when compare to November 2017. The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that the U.S. goods and services deficit was $53.1 billion in December, up $2.7 billion from $50.4 billion in November. Exports
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
