Jamaica’s Net International Reserves (NIR) totaled US$3,208.29 million as at December 2017, reflecting an increase of US$92.07 million relative to the US$3,116.22 million reported as at the end of November 2017 (see figure 1). Changes in the NIR resulted from an increase in Foreign Assets of US$95.57 million to total US$3,781.17 million compared to the US$3,685.59
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, advised that the goods and services deficit for November 2017 was $50.5 billion compared to $48.9 billion, up $1.6 billion. November exports increased 4.4 billion to totaled $200.2 billion, while imports totaled $250.7 billion, $6.0 billion above October 2017
For the period of April 2017 to November 2017, the GOJ reported Total Revenues & Grants of $336.59 billion, $13.04 billion more than the government’s projection. Furthermore, year over year, this represents an increase of approximately 10.7% relative to the $304.10 billion recorded for the corresponding period in 2016. ‘Tax Revenue,’ ’Capital Revenue’ and ‘Grants’
The US unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1% despite US total nonfarm payroll employment increasing by 148,000 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Majority of the gains in employment occurred in the manufacturing, construction and health industry. Data revealed the unemployment rate was 4.1% for the third consecutive month as seen in the
For the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, Jamaica’s economy recorded a 0.8% growth when compared to last year. Based on information released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), the total value added at constant prices for the Jamaican economy was $186,004 million. The movement was attributed to improved performances in the Services industries
Personal income rose $54.0 billion (0.3%) in November according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI) climbed $50.9 billion (0.4%) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $87.1 billion (0.6). Real DPI increased 0.1 percent in November and Real PCE increased 0.4%. The PCE price index increased 0.2%. Excluding
the Producer Price Index for the Mining and Quarrying industry posted a growth of 2% for October 2017. The movement was as a result of the major group ‘Bauxite Mining Alumina Processing’ which experience a similar growth of 2% in its index according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). STATIN also noted, “this was
The seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector fell 0.4% in the euro area (EA19) for October 2017 relative to September 2017. First estimates from the Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union reflect a 0.7% decline for the EU28 for October 2017. This follows a 0.1% increase in the euro area (EU19) for
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives approved sweeping, debt-financed tax legislation on Tuesday, sending the bill to the Senate, where lawmakers were due to take up the package later in the evening. The biggest overhaul of the U.S. tax system in more than 30 years could be signed into law by President Donald Trump as
The U.S. current account deficit at the end of the third quarter of 2017 declined to $100.6 billion from $124.4 billion in the second quarter of 2017, according to information released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The improvement from the third quarter reflects a decrease in the deficits on secondary income and goods
