United States: U.S. GDP Grows Above-Forecast 2.6% as Business Spending Picks Up The U.S. economy cooled by less than expected last quarter as business investment picked up, suggesting growth could be stronger for longer as the Federal Reserve takes a patient approach to interest rates. The 2.6 percent annualized rate of gains in gross domestic
Date: February 27, 2019 Real GDP in the 3rd quarter of 2018 increased for 49 states and the District of Columbia. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), “The percent change in real GDP in the third quarter ranged from 5.8 percent in Washington to 0.0 percent in West Virginia.” The BEA also
United States: America’s Job Market Has Some Upside as Disabled Workers Return Whether would-be workers linger on the U.S. labor market’s sidelines is a key question: it will determine how fast the country’s economy can grow, how fast wages might rise, and, potentially, how patient the Federal Reserve can afford to be with rate increases.
United States: U.S. Farmers Fear Trump’s Assault on WTO Hurts Them Donald Trump’s attack on the World Trade Organization has U.S. farmers worried that the president’s ‘America first’ foreign policy approach will hamstring efforts to defend their interests. The U.S. is strangling the ability of the WTO, which oversees the rules for nearly $23 trillion
Date: February 25, 2019 The euro area (EA19) and the EU 28 reported a decrease in the Seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector by 0.4% and by 0.9% respectively during December 2018 compared with November 2018. In addition, According to Eurostat, “In November 2018, production in construction grew by 0.3% in the euro area
Date: February 25, 2019 In January 2019, The euro area annual inflation rate was 1.4% , down from 1.5% in December. Compared to the previous year, the rate was 1.3%. Additionally, the European Union annual inflation was reported at 1.5% in January 2019, down from 1.6% in December. Compared to the previous year, the rate
Date: February 22, 2019 The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their 2018 estimates surrounding occupational requirements in the United States. This survey consists of data across three samples over a three year period. The total sample included approximately 25,300 establishments and estimates represent about 140,800,000 civilian workers. Education, training, and experience requirements For 2018,
Date: February 21, 2019 The leading contributors to the increase in U.S. economic growth in the third quarter of 2018 were Wholesale trade; information; and finance and insurance. According to The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), “19 of 22 industry groups contributed to the overall 3.4 percent increase in real GDP in the third
Date: February 21, 2019 The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) held its Quarterly Monetary Policy Press Conference today, where the Governor, Mr. Brian Wynter, commented on the Bank’s decision to lower the policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.50%. According to the Governor, “this policy decision reflects the Bank’s assessment that inflation will again
Brent Oil Brent oil prices increased by 4.23% or US$2.72, as prices increased this week relative to the prior week. Oil traded on February 21, 2019 at a price of US$67.06 per barrel relative to US$64.34 on February 21, 2019. Brent oil began the year at US$54.91 per barrel. Petrojam prices 87 Octane prices increased
