Economic Highlights
Brent Oil Brent oil prices rose by 3.51% (US$2.05), as prices declined this week. Oil traded on November 1, 2017 at a price of 60.49 (US$/ barrel) and began the year at US$56.90 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased week over week, by 1.24% (US$1.46 ). Additionally 90 Octane increased by 1.24% or
Monthly Economic Review - September 2017
Brent Oil Brent oil prices rose by 2.11% (US$1.21), as prices declined this week. Oil traded on October 25, 2017 at a price of 58.44 (US$/ barrel) and began the year at US$56.90 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased week over week, by 0.84% (US$0.98 ). Additionally 90 Octane increased by 0.82% or
The inflation rate for the month September 2017 was 0.7%, following an upward movement of 0.3% in August 2017. The division which recorded the highest movement for the month was ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ with a 2.6% growth, while the index for ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ advanced by 0.4%. STATIN reported that
Brent Oil Brent oil prices rose by 1.74% (US$0.98), as prices declined this week. Oil traded on October 19, 2017 at a price of 567.23 (US$/ barrel) and began the year at US$56.90 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased week over week, by 0.41% (US$0.48 ). Additionally 90 Octane increased by 0.40%
Brent Oil Brent oil prices rose by 0.81% (US$0.45), as prices declined this week. Oil traded on October 12, 2017 at a price of 56.25 (US$/ barrel) and began the year at US$56.90 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices declined week over week, by 0.67% (US$0.78 ). Additionally 90 Octane declined by 0.65% or
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its August 2017 summary of job openings and labor turnover earlier today. As at August 31st, there were 6.1 million job openings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job openings rate was 4% in August, while the number of job openings was little changed for total private
Jamaica’s Net International Reserves totaled US$3,137.14 million as at September 2017, reflecting a decrease of US$532.23 million relative to the US$3,669.37 million reported as at the end of August 2017 (see figure 1). Changes in the NIR resulted from a 13% or US$532.27 decline in Foreign Assets to total US$3,714.94 million compared to US$4,247.21 million
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Employment Situation Summary earlier today which highlighted the unemployment rate fell to 4.2% for September. Total nonfarm payroll employment reflected a decline of 33,000. The passing of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey resulted in a sharp decline in employment in food services and drinking places and “below-trend growth in
During the period January to July 2017 the trade deficit worsened to US$2,376.7 million, increasing by US$383.2 million or 19.2% relative to US$1,993.5 million for the corresponding period in 2016 based on data released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). Imports The total spend on imported goods amounted to US$3,156.0 million, an increase
