Date: April 8, 2020 Jamaica’s Net International Reserves (NIR) totaled US$3,237.67 million as at March 2020, reflecting an increase of US$106.39 million relative to the US$3,131.28 million reported as at the end of February 2020 (see figure 1). Changes in the NIR resulted from an increase in Foreign Assets of US$91.85 million to total US$3,688.45
April 06, 2020 Job openings recorded a slight change to 6.9 million at the end of February according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. For February, hires and separations were little changed to 5.9 million and 5.6 million, respectively. Regarding the quits rate and layoffs and discharge rate, these were unchanged at 2.3% and 1.2 %
April 06, 2020 Total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 701,000 in March, as the rate of unemployment increased to 4.4%, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS). This increase reflects the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and efforts to contain it. BLS mentioned that, “employment in leisure and hospitality fell
April 02, 2020 The latest report published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union stated “In February 2020, – the month before COVID-19 containment measures began to be widely introduced by Member States –, industrial producer prices decreased by 0.6% in both the euro area and the EU, compared with January 2020.” However,
April 02, 2020 Brent Oil Brent oil prices increased by 0.38% or US$0.10, as prices rose this week relative to the prior week. Oil traded on April 02, 2020 at a price of US$26.44 per barrel relative to US$28.34 on March 26, 2020. Brent oil opened 2020 year at US$66.25 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87
April 1, 2020 Government Operations Results for February 2020 For the period of April 2019 to February 2020, the GOJ reported Total Revenues & Grants of $568.07 billion, $4.81 billion more than the Government’s projection. Furthermore, year over year, this represents an increase of approximately 4.2% relative to the $545.02 billion recorded for the corresponding
April 01, 2020 The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7.3% in February 2020 relative to 7.4% in January 2020 and down from 7.8% in February 2019, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Notably, since March 2008, this is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area. Additionally, “The EU
March 31, 2020 The Bureau of Economic Analysis noted that the U.S. net international investment position totaled $10.99 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019. Moreover, assets totaled $29.32 trillion whilst liabilities amounted to $40.31 trillion. The net investment position amounted to $10.98 trillion at the end of the third quarter. United States assets had a
March 30, 2020 In February, personal income rose by $106.8 billion (0.6%) in the U.S, according to estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI) climbed $88.7 billion (0.5%) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) grew $27.7 billion (0.2%). Real DPI rose 0.4% in February and Real PCE climbed 0.1%. The PCE
March 30, 2020 The unprecedented spread of COVID-19 has created a global health crisis. Each day brings new developments as countries around the world seek to "flatten the curve" and achieve "social distance" which is significantly, sharply and suddenly curtailing economic activity around the world. The Jamaican government, led by the Most Hon. Prime
