April 9, 2021 The final demand for the Producer Price Index rose 1.0% in March 2021, seasonally adjusted according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics. Final demand prices increased 0.5% in February 2021 and increased 1.3% in January 2021. On an unadjusted basis, “the final demand index moved up 4.2 percent for the 12
April 8, 2021 The seasonally adjusted initial claims, advance estimate, increased by 16,000 to 744,000, for the week ending April 3, from the prior week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labour (DOL). The prior week’s level was revised up from 719,000 to 728,000 by 9,000. In comparison to the previous week’s average,
April 07, 2021 The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis indicated that, “goods and services deficit was $71.1 billion in February, up $3.3 billion from $67.8 billion in January, revised.” February exports amounted to $187.3 billion, which was less than January exports by $5.0 billion, whereas, February imports amounted to $258.3 billion which was $1.7 billion less than
April 6, 2021 According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), the Jamaican economy declined by 8.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020 when compared to the similar quarter of 2019. This downward movement resulted from the 11.1% decline in the Services Industries, while the Goods Producing Industries grew by 0.2%. The performance of the
April 6, 2021 Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 916,000 in March, as the unemployment rate declined to 6.0%, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS). This improvement in the labour market is due to the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19)
April 6, 2021 Government Operations Results for February 2021 For the period of April to February 2021, the GOJ reported Total Revenues & Grants of $490.16 billion, $1.38 billion more than the Government’s projection. This represented a decrease of approximately 13% relative to the $563.27 billion recorded for the corresponding period in 2020. ‘Non-Tax Revenue’,
March 31, 2021 Total U.S. Retail Sales excluding Non-store Retailers, not seasonally adjusted, for December 2020 recorded a 4.8% (±0.5%) increase, according to the US Census Bureau. It was noted that thirty-four states had positive and significant year-over-year percent changes from December 2019 to December 2020. Notably, December ’s retail sales for Building Supplies, Garden
March 29, 2021 BANK OF JAMAICA HOLDS POLICY RATE Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) announces its decision to hold the policy interest rate (the rate offered to deposit-taking institutions on overnight placements with BOJ) unchanged at 0.50 per cent per annum. Bank of Jamaica has kept the policy rate at the historic low level of 0.50 per cent
March 25, 2021 The seasonally adjusted initial claims, advance estimate, decreased by 97,000 to 684,000, for the week ending March 20, from the prior week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labour (DOL). The prior week’s level was revised up from 770,000 to 781,000 by 11,000. In comparison to the previous week’s average,
March 24, 2021 In 2020, U.S. state personal income rose 6.1% relative to a 3.9% increase in 2019 according to estimates released by Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The BEA also noted, “the percent change in personal income across all states ranged from 8.4% in Arizona and Montana to 2.4% in Wyoming.” Meanwhile, state personal income
