July 09, 2020 The seasonally adjusted initial claims, advance estimate, fell to 1,314,000, a decrease of 99,000 for the week ending July 4 from the prior week's revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labour (DOL). The prior week's level was revised to 1,413,000 from 1,427,000 down by 14,000. In comparison to the previous week’s average, the 4-week moving average
Brent Oil Brent oil prices decreased by 2.02% or US$0.87, as prices declined this week relative to the prior week. Oil traded on July 9, 2020 at a price of US$42.27 per barrel relative to US$43.14 on July 2, 2020. Brent oil opened 2020 year at US$66.25 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased
Net International Reserves- June 2020 Jamaica’s Net International Reserves (NIR) totaled US$2,949.26 million as at June 2020, reflecting an increase of US$44.77 million relative to the US$2,904.49 million reported at the end of May 2020 (see figure 1). Changes in the NIR resulted from an increase in Foreign Assets of US$33.31 million to total US$3,905.02
July 7, 2020 Real gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2020 declined in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), “the percent change in real GDP in the first quarter ranged from -1.3% in Nebraska to -8.2% in New York and Nevada.”
July 06, 2020 After the Member States began easing the COVID-19 containment measures in May 2020, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade rose by 17.8% in the euro area and by 16.4% in the EU, compared with April 2020, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. However, in April 2020, the
June 2, 2020 Consumer Price Index – April 2020 The consumer price index for April 2020 was 103.7 resulting in an inflation rate of 0.2% increase when compared to previous month’s 103.5 price index, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). STATIN noted, “the inflation rate for April 2020 was impacted by the reduction
Brent Oil Brent oil prices increased by 4.41% or US$1.81, as prices rose this week relative to the prior week. Oil traded on July 2, 2020 at a price of US$42.86 per barrel relative to US$41.05 on June 25, 2020. Brent oil opened 2020 year at US$66.25 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices decreased
June 2, 2020 Total nonfarm payroll employment climbed 4.8 million in June, as the unemployment rate fell to 11.1%, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS). The performance was due to the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April, stemming from the coronavirus (COVID-19)
July 02, 2020 Bank of Jamaica announces its decision to hold the policy interest rate (the rate offered to deposit-taking institutions on overnight placements with Bank of Jamaica) unchanged at 0.50 percent per annum. The decision to hold the policy rate unchanged is based on the Bank’s continued view that monetary conditions are generally
July 2, 2020 Unemployment rates trended upward for the month of May in all 389 metropolitan states compared to twelve months earlier. According to Bureau Labor Statistics (BLS), “a total of 109 areas had jobless rates of less than 10.0 %, and 16 areas had rates of at least 20.0%.” Non-farm payroll employment fell in
