January 12, 2021 The Bureau of Labour Statistics reported that, the number of job openings stood at 6.5 million on the last business day of November. In addition, for November, hires were relatively unchanged at 6.0 million while separations rose to 5.4 million, respectively. Regarding separations, the quits rate stood at 2.2% and layoffs and
January 11, 2021 The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis indicated that, “the goods and services deficit was $68.1 billion in November, up $5.0 billion from $63.1 billion in October, revised.” November exports amounted to $184.2 billion, which was more than October exports by $2.2 billion, whereas, November imports amounted to $252.3 billion which was $7.2 billion more than
January 8, 2021 Jamaica’s Net International Reserves (NIR) totalled US$3,126.13 million as at December 2020, reflecting an increase of US$163.37 million relative to the US$2,962.76 million reported at the end of November 2020 (see figure 1). This change in the NIR resulted from a US$148.76 million increase in Foreign Assets which total US$4,081.09 million compared
January 7, 2021 News Release: Currency Issue During the last eight work-days of December 2020 (21 to 31 December), Bank of Jamaica recorded net currency issue of $9.8 billion to financial institutions (commercial banks, building societies and cambios). The issue for the period contributed to an overall growth of $21.6 billion or 12.8 per cent in the currency stock for December
January 7, 2021 The seasonally adjusted initial claims, advance estimate, decreased by 3,000 to 787,000 for the week ending January 2, from the prior week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labour (DOL). The prior week’s level was revised from 787,000 to 790,000 up by 3,000. In comparison to the previous week’s average,
December 05, 2021 Unemployment rates trended upward for the month of November in 386 of the 389 metropolitan areas and lower in 3 areas compared to twelve months earlier. According to Bureau Labor Statistics (BLS), “a total of 63 areas had jobless rates of less than 4.0% and 12 areas had rates of at least 10.0%.”
January 4, 2020 Government Operations Results for November 2020 For the period of April to November 2020, the GOJ reported Total Revenues & Grants of $339.84 billion, $1.07 billion more than the Government’s projection. This represented a decrease of approximately 16.1% relative to the $404.96 billion recorded for the corresponding period in 2019. ‘Tax Revenue’
December 31, 2020 According the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), the Jamaican economy declined by 10.7% in the third quarter of 2020 when compared to the similar quarter of 2019. This downward movement resulted from declines in both the Services Industries (13.1%) and the Goods Producing Industries (3.5%). The performance of the economy was largely
December 31, 2020 The seasonally adjusted initial claims, advance estimate, decreased by 19,000 to 787,000 for the week ending December 26, from the prior week’s revised level, according to the U.S. Department of Labour (DOL). The prior week’s level was revised from 803,000 to 806,000 up by 3,000. In comparison to the previous week’s average, the 4-week moving
December 31, 2020 The advance international trade in goods recorded a deficit of $84.8 billion in November, up $4.4 billion from $80.4 billion in October. Exports of goods for November were $127.2 billion, $1.1 billion more than the $126.17 billion reported in October. Imports of goods for November were $212.0 billion, $5.5 billion more than
