May 21, 2024 At its meetings on May 16-17, 2024, the Bank of Jamaica's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the policy interest rate at 7.0%, ensure stability in the foreign exchange market, and maintain tight Jamaican dollar liquidity. This decision was influenced by the 5.3% inflation rate from April 2023 to April
May 17, 2024 The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) reported that for April 2024, the point-to-point inflation rate was +5.3%; 0.3 percentage points lower than the prior point-to-point inflation rate. However, for the month of April 2024, the inflation rate was -0.7%, the fourth consecutive monthly decline. The main driver of the monthly decrease (0.7%)
May 17, 2024 In April 2024, the annual inflation rate in the euro area remained constant at 2.4% when compared to March 2024. In the year earlier the annual inflation rate was 7.0%. In April 2024, the EU's annual inflation rate remained steady at 2.6% from March 2024. In the previous the annual inflation rate
May 15, 2024 Seasonally adjusted GDP grew by 0.3% across the EU and the euro area in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior quarter, according to a flash estimate released by Eurostat, the EU's statistical office. The GDP of the euro area fell by 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023, while
May 14, 2024 According to recent World Bank data, private infrastructure spending in low- and middle-income nations reached $86 billion in 2023. Although investments decreased by 5% from 2022, they still matched the five-year average prior to that. More nations got private investments in infrastructure over a larger sample of projects, even though the overall
May 14, 2024 The total trade value of raw materials between the European Union and the rest of the world in 2023 was €165 billion (imports plus exports). There was a €29 billion trade deficit as a result of lower exports (€68 billion) than imports (€97 billion). The EU's overall raw material trade increased by
May 9, 2024 The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at its meeting ended May 8, 2024, voted to maintain the Bank Rate at 5.25%, as opposed to reducing the bank rate by 0.25 percentage points. The MPC believes that the bank rate will help sustain growth and employment, and ultimately meet the 2%
May 9, 2024 According to the Central Bank of Barbados, despite facing challenges such as elevated foreign interest rates, geopolitical tensions, higher freight costs, and adverse local weather conditions, Barbados' economy demonstrated growth in early 2024, further strengthening key economic aggregates like the current account balance and debt-to-GDP ratio. During the first quarter of 2024,
May 9, 2024 First estimates from Eurostat, the European Union's statistical office, show that seasonally adjusted services production rose by 1.1% in the EU and by 1.0% in the Euro Area in February 2024 compared to January 2024. The production of services increased by 0.8% in the euro region and by 0.3% throughout the EU in
May 8, 2024 According to Caribbean News Global, The World Bank Group's board of directors endorsed a strategic partnership for Jamaica, focusing on green, resilient, and inclusive development for the 2024-2027 period. The plan supports debt reduction and fiscal resilience, with priorities including boosting human capital, creating higher-quality jobs, and strengthening resilience to shocks. Jamaica,
