The inflation rate, increased by a mere 0.2 percent in April 2015 while the year-to-date inflation rate for April 2015 is minus 0.5 percent, the point-to-point 4.4 percent.
Statin said the lower increase for April is due mainly to upward movements in the index for the divisions of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages 0.5 percent, Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco 1.3 percent and Transport 1.1 percent. The fall in prices the group Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ which fell by 4.6 percent. This resulted mainly from lower fuel rates, as well as an appreciation of the Jamaican dollar.
The calendar The other divisions that recorded increases in the All Jamaica ‘All Divisions’ index were: ‘Clothing and Footwear’ 0.4 percent, ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ 0.4 percent, ‘Health’ 0.2 percent, percent, ‘Recreation and Culture’ 0.3 percent, ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ 0.2 percent, and ‘Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ 0.3 percent.
Jamaica’s 2015 inflation remains tame
Unemployment worsens
Jamaica’s unemployment worsened in December last year compared with a year ago according to the main findings of the Labour Force Survey, conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) between December 14 and 20, last year.
According to Statin, the Unemployment Rate for December 2014 was 14.2 percent compared to 13.4 in December 2014 leaving the Employment Rate at 85.8 percent, a fall from the 86.6 percent in December 2013.
A total of 188,100 persons were unemployed in December last year, an increase of 13,100 when compared with 175,000 in December 2013. The deterioration did not stem from less persons being employed as the number of persons in the Labour Force rose to 1,320,800, or 15,700 higher than the 1,305,100 recorded in December 2013. The Employed Labour Force for December 2014 was 1,132,700, or 2,600 more than the 1,130,100 recorded in December 2013.
Jamaica’s Minister of Finance. At the last election his party promised jobs & more jobs. Tight economic policies won’t deliver them in the short term
The number of persons employed in the group ‘Manufacturing’ increased by 7,200 persons or 10 percent, while ‘Transport, Storage and Communication’ increased by 5,500 persons (7.7 percent). Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry & Fishing’ declined by 7,400 persons (3.6 percent) followed by ‘Real Estate, Renting & Business Activities’, which declined by 6,100 persons or 8.6 percent.
Treasury bill rates slide continue
Government of Jamaica Treasury bill rates, declined in the latest auction of the short-term debt instruments, opened today at the Bank of Jamaica offices. The 182 days instrument closed at its lowest level since May 2013 when it then cleared at 6.44 percent.
At today’s auction the average rate came in at 6.787 percent, down from 6.998 percent in March and the 91 days ended at 6.06 percent, a decline that is well down on the previous rate of 6.72765 percent. 
The declines come against the background of consistently falling rates since the start of the second quarter last year, negative inflation and a cut this month in Bank of Jamaica’s CD rate, from 5.75 percent to 5.50 percent.
The implications of the fall include potential for lower lending rates down the road, stimulation of interest sensitive investments such as stocks and long term bonds and of course persons looking for income from fixed interest securities will be getting less income going forward than in the recent past.
Prices up in March down for year
The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin) reports that for March 2015 that inflation rose by 0.5 percent over the February which had a fall of 0.7 percent. The calendar year-to-date inflation rate is minus 0.6 percent. This is the first increase in the index after recording four consecutive months of decline”, Statin said.
Contributing significantly to this advance in the index was a 2.9 percent increase in the index for the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels due mainly higher rates for electricity. Lower prices for vegetables and starchy foods helped in moderating the increase with a small reduction in prices.
The divisions that recorded increases in prices are, ‘Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco’ 0.3 percent, ‘Clothing and Footwear’ 0.4 percent, ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ 0.3 percent, ‘Health’ 0.2 percent, ‘Transportation 0.7 percent, ‘Recreation and Culture’ 0.1 percent, ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ 0.3 percent ‘, ‘Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ 1.3 percent, while ‘Education’, and ‘Communication’ each remained unchanged.
BOJ cut interest rate
The Bank of Jamaica’s 30-day Certificate of Deposit interest rate was reduced on Friday, 17 April 2015 Thursday to 5.50 percent from 5.75 percent, the central bank announced on Thursday. This is the first such reduction since February 2013, when the rate was cut by 50 basis points from 6.25 percent to 5.75 percent.
BOJ in its release stated, “this adjustment to the BOJ policy rate, reflects the Bank’s expectation that the rate of increase in consumer prices is likely to remain low in the coming year”.
“The recently announced inflation rate of 4 per cent for FY 2014/15 is the lowest in 48 years. The sharper than expected decline in inflation for the fiscal year was due in part to the fall in oil prices but also to the moderation in price increases that has resulted from fiscal consolidation and economic reforms. The impact of these changes will help to moderate inflation impulses over the medium term” the central bank concluded.
The reduction is also in line with a decline in Treasury bill rates over the past year, coupled with increased inflows of foreign exchange into the system that led to some amount of revaluation of the Jamaican dollar.
January remittances climb
Jamaica enjoyed a record haul in remittance inflows for the month of January with US$166 million garnered in January this year, according to data from Bank of Jamaica.
The flows represent an increase of US$8 million or 5.1 percent more than the amounts collected in January 2014. The growth in remittance inflows and a contraction in outflows resulted in net remittance inflows increasing at a faster pace than total inflows, with net remittances of US$147.4 million for January 2015, an increase of US$9.5 million or 6.9 percent over January 2014.
The gain in net inflows would have been occasioned by greater stability and availability of foreign exchange locally.
30 days interest rate rise
Interest rate increased for the latest Government of Jamaica Treasury Bills offering for April over the previous issue, in March this year, but by a relatively small amount of 0.04 percentage points.
The highest and lowest rates in the auction, suggest that investors expected rates to have eased rather than rise, with successful investors obtaining rates ranging from 6.1 percent to 6.74999 percent with an average rate 6.33979 percent, compared to the March auction with a high of 6.8 percent and a low of 6 percent and an average of 6.3 percent. Applications for $690,246,600 chased the $400,000,000 available on Wednesday, April 15 for Treasury Bills with a 30 days maturity of Friday May 15.
Jamaican economy grew 0.4% in 2014
Building under construction in Montego Bay contributed to economic growth in 2014
For the year Statin said that there was a 0.6 percent increase in the output of the Services industries while the Goods Producing industries declined by 0.1 percent. Growth last year was the second year of increased output for the economy with very moderate growth for 2013 around 0.2 percent. The figures will undergo at least two sets of revision before they are final as such the figures could be increased or reduced based on new data that may become available.
The Jamaican economy, grew by 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2014, over the similar period in 2013. In the second quarter, growth accelerated to 1.9 percent, but a combination of drought conditions and negative impact of Chick v illness as well as closure of the oil refinery severely affected growth in the second half of the year, but more so in the third quarter. The economy declined by 1.4 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared to the similar quarter of 2013 and growth in “the final quarter of the year resulted in 0.4 percent negative growth compared with the same period in 2013,” Statin said.
For the final quarter of 2014 the reduction in output was due mainly to a 3.9 per cent decline in the Goods Producing industries. The Services industries however, recorded an increase of 0.8 per cent, Statin stated.
GOJ should report 2015 deficit
Government of Jamaica is reporting a deficit of $39 billion on its operation to February, this year, just below the $40 billion projected and a primary surplus of $79 billion versus forecast of $83 billion.
With the budget for March this year indicating expectations for a surplus of $29 billion, the country should be seeing an overall deficit close to the $11 billion reflected in the 2014/15 budget. The primary surplus budgeted at $121 billion could end up around $116 billion unless there are extraordinary inflows or sharp cut in expenditure.
Overall revenues fell $12 billion for the 11 months while there were cuts of $9 billion in capital expenditure, wages $3 billion and interest cost almost $6 billion. PAYE delivered $3 billion more inflows than forecast and withholding tax performed better than forecast by $2.5 billion. Pulling down the revenues were Local GCT $7 billion, corporation taxes $7.5 billion.
Jamaica’s 2014 trade deficit falls
Imports of petroleum fell
Jamaica’s expenditure on merchandise imports during January to November 2014 fell by US$280 million or 5 percent to US$5,287 million when compared to the same period in 2013. Earnings from total exports fell by US$109 million or 7.5 percent to US$1.35 billion. The trade deficit a narrowed to by 4.1 percent or US$171 million to US$3.94 billion, compared to the similar 2013 period.
Major contributors to the fall in imports were declines of Mineral Fuels with a decline of US$154 million or 7.9 per cent, food declined by US$51 million or 5.8 per cent, to US$837 million. Chemicals fell by US$130 million or 18.6 per cent, lower imports of ethanol products were the primary contributor to this decline. Beverages & Tobacco decreased by US$66 million, US$4 million or 6.1 percent below the US$71 million recorded in the similar 2013 period.
Bauxite mining
Exports|Earnings from traditional exports increased up by US$19 million or 2.7 percent to US$739 million, due to increases in Mining and Quarrying but Non-Traditional domestic exports valued at US$549 million, fell 16.9 percent or US$111 million.
