December 13, 2019 November’s import prices rose 0.2%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics after declining 0.5% the previous month. This advance was mostly attributable to the higher prices in fuel imports which more than offset the decline in nonfuel goods. Nonetheless, export prices rose 0.2% in November relative to a 0.1% decrease
December 12, 2019 Final demand for the Producer Price Index remained unchanged in November 2019, seasonally adjusted according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Final demand prices rose 0.4% in October and fell 0.3% in September. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index increased 1.1% for the 12 months ended in November. The index
December 12, 2019 Brent Oil Brent oil prices increased by 1.45% or US$0.92, as prices increased this week relative to the prior week. Oil traded on December 12, 2019 at a price of US$64.31 per barrel relative to US$63.39 on December 05, 2019. Brent oil began the year at US$55.95 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87
Date: December 11, 2019 Based on the latest information received by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) since October, the FOMC has noticed the labour market remained strong, whilst economic activity has been rising at a solid rate. According to the FOMC, “on average, in recent months, job gains have been strong and the unemployment
December 11, 2019 The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3% for November 2019 after increasing in October, on a seasonally adjusted basis according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The all items index increased 2.1% before seasonal adjustment over the last year. BLS stated, “increases in the shelter and energy
Date: December 11, 2019 Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) wishes to advise that effective 13 December 2019, it will no longer exchange cotton-based TT$ 100 banknotes at its banking counter. This decision has been taken in a context where the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago has advised that effective 31 December 2019, these notes will
December 09, 2019 Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 266,000 in November, as the rate of unemployment recorded a small change at 3.5%, as stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics. Job gains occurred within the health care and in professional and technical services. Employment increased in manufacturing, reflecting the return of workers from
Date: December 09, 2019 Jamaica’s Net International Reserves (NIR) totaled US$3,105.87 million as at November 2019, reflecting a decrease of US$63.71 million relative to the US$3,169.57 million reported as at the end of October 2019 (see figure 1). Changes in the NIR resulted from a decrease in Foreign Assets of US$75.01 million to total US$3,581.84 million
December 05, 2019 Brent Oil Brent oil prices decreased by 0.75% or US$0.48, as prices decreased this week relative to the prior week. Oil traded on December 5, 2019 at a price of US$63.39 per barrel relative to US$63.87 on November 28, 2019. Brent oil began the year at US$55.95 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87
Date: December 02, 2019 For the period of April to October 2019, the GOJ reported Total Revenues & Grants of $358.76 billion, $4.39 billion more than the Government’s projection. Furthermore, year over year, this represents an increase of approximately 6.1% relative to the $338.28 billion recorded for the corresponding period in 2018. ‘Tax Revenue’, ‘Non-Tax
