May 2017 Financial News

BOJ to assess impact of heavy rains on inflation

May 22, 2017

MONTEGO BAY, St James:

The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) will be assessing the impact of the torrential flood rains which lashed the island last week to determine whether its inflation forecast needs to be revised.

While indicating that the general target was not expected to change, BOJ Governor Bryan Wynter said the bank would be better able to determine whether the forecast range needs to be adjusted when the assessments are completed and the data submitted.

He was addressing the Central Bank's quarterly press briefing at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel in Montego Bay, St James, on Friday.

For the 2017-18 financial year, inflation is projected within the range of four to six per cent. This outlook reflects a one-off price increase for fuel, electricity and transportation, associated with the recently announced tax measures.

INFLATION UP

In addition, consumer prices rose by 0.3 per cent in the month of April, bringing annual inflation to 4.8 per cent.

Wynter also pointed out that inflation in April partly reflected the impact of taxes on the cost of transportation and alcoholic beverages.

He noted that for the rest of the fiscal year, barring the unforeseen, the BOJ expects monthly inflation rates similar to what was seen in April.

Governor of the Bank of Jamaica Brian Wynter has indicated that the current account deficit for fiscal year 2016-17 is at 1.8 per cent of gross domestic product, which is below the two per cent for the previous fiscal year.

Wynter noted that experts would have had to go back about 20 years in Jamaica's history to find another deficit this low.

"Furthermore, if we subtract imports financed by direct foreign investment inflows, this will be the second consecutive year when Jamaica earns more in foreign exchange than it spends," Wynter added.

He also informed that goods exports for the January to March quarter rose strongly by about nine per cent, (US$26 million) for the first time in nearly four years, reflected almost entirely in non-traditional exports.

"Food exports from a wide variety of items, including ackee, fruits, baked products and sauces, rose by 26 per cent, while earnings from tobacco and beverages, not including rum, rose by 112 per cent. Earnings from an already strong tourism sector also rose significantly by 5.4 per cent during the quarter, on the back of a 6.1 per cent improvement in stopover arrivals," Wynter explained.

Wynter further noted that the economic improvements were due to the implementation of structural reforms over the years.

"Along with corrections in external price-competitiveness, the improvements we are seeing in the current account are, undoubtedly, the fruit of that sacrifice," he posited.

Source:
Jamaica Gleaner
Monday May 22, 2017

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