The population of Jamaica at the end of 2013 was estimated at 2,717,991. Births occurring during the year were estimated at 36,746, deaths 15,427 and net migration 14,744. Natural increase, the difference between births and deaths, was 21,319. The change in population over the year was estimated at 6,440. Table (ii) shows the population change from 2009 to present. It shows that although the population is growing, the absolute change in the population is decreasing each year.

Fertility

The number of births occurring in 2013 was 36,746. There has been a decline in fertility over the years and the data in Table (v) show this trend. This is also substantiated by the crude birth rate which shows a decline of 2.26 births per 1,000 population between 2009 and 2013. The occurrences of live births by age of mother show that approximately 69.0 per cent of births for the year 2013 were to women who were less than 30 years old. This has been the pattern since 2005. The total fertility rate estimates the average number of children per woman during her reproductive years.

Mortality

Mortality refers to the number of deaths in a population. The number of deaths that occurred in 2013 was 15,427. The crude death rate from data provided by the Registrar General’s Department is 5.68 deaths per 1,000 persons in the population.

Approximately 19.1 per cent of all deaths to males five years and older were attributable to external causes, 10.73 per cent to cerebrovascular diseases, 10.2 per cent to diabetes mellitus, 6.9 per cent to malignant neoplasm of the prostate and 6.5 per cent to hypertensive disease. More than a half, (53.4 per cent) of all deaths to males was attributable to these five causes. The largest cause-specific death rates were 135 and 76 deaths per 100,000 in the male population for external causes and cerebrovascular diseases respectively. In comparison to the previous year’s data, external causes, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and malignant neoplasm of the prostate have maintained their rankings of first to fourth place. Hypertensive diseases have moved up in ranking to fifth position replacing ischemic heart diseases.

The five leading causes of death for women five years and older accounted for just 54.1 per cent of all deaths to females and this age group (Table xi). The leading causes were diabetes mellitus 17.3 per cent, cerebrovascular diseases 15.3 per cent, hypertensive diseases 9.7 per cent, ischaemic heart diseases 7.1 per cent and diseases of the respiratory system 4.7 per cent.

Approximately 19.1 per cent of all deaths to males five years and older were attributable to external causes, 10.73 per cent to cerebrovascular diseases, 10.2 per cent to diabetes mellitus, 6.9 per cent to malignant neoplasm of the prostate and 6.5 per cent to hypertensive disease. More than a half, (53.4 per cent) of all deaths to males was attributable to these five causes. The largest cause-specific death rates were 135 and 76 deaths per 100,000 in the male population for external causes and cerebrovascular diseases respectively. In comparison to the previous year’s data, external causes, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and malignant neoplasm of the prostate have maintained their rankings of first to fourth place. Hypertensive diseases have moved up in ranking to fifth position replacing ischemic heart diseases.

The five leading causes of death for women five years and older accounted for just 54.1 per cent of all deaths to females and this age group (Table xi). The leading causes were diabetes mellitus 17.3 per cent, cerebrovascular diseases 15.3 per cent, hypertensive diseases 9.7 per cent, ischaemic heart diseases 7.1 per cent and diseases of the respiratory system 4.7 per cent.

Employment and Earnings

In 2013, the average estimated employment in large establishments was 173,024, which was an increase of 1.4 per cent over 2012 (170,590). Six of the eight industry groups registered an increase in the level of employment. The average earnings of all employees in large establishments were $20,401, an increase of 3.9 per cent over the average of $19,644 registered in the previous year (2012). Average earnings were higher in five of the eight groups.

EmploymentTotal Employment

For the period 2011 to 2013, annual average employment increased by 1.1 per cent from 171,216 to 173,024, with higher employment levels in five of the eight industry groups. Estimated employment level for 2013 (173,024) was 1.4 per cent above that of 2012 (170,590).

Salaried Employees

Salaried employees in large establishments increased by 12.1 per cent moving from 79,560 in March 2012 to 89,161 in December 2013. On an annual basis, the average number of salaried employees increased by 8.3 per cent in 2013 over 2012.

Wage Earners

The number of wage earners fell by 7.9 per cent, from 92,387 in March 2012 to 85,053 in December 2013. In 2013, the number of wage earners increased by 3.4 per cent over 2012. Average weekly earnings increased by 8.4 per cent during the period March 2012 to December 2013, moving from $18,880 to $20,475. Higher average earnings were Employment, Earnings and Hours Worked in Large Establishments 2011-2013 registered in five of the eight major industry groups. Average earnings in 2013 ($20,401) was 3.9 per cent higher than the 2012 figure of $19,644.

The Jamaican economy declined by 0.5 per cent with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) moving from $841,918 million in 2011 to $838,116 million in 2012. This was the result of a 1.8 per cent decline in the Goods Producing industries and a relatively unchanged Services industries. The economy was impacted by the challenges in the macroeconomic environment and the adverse weather conditions experienced in the latter half of the year. Among the factors that constrained aggregate demand within the economy were; the uncertainties surrounding the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement, exchange rate depreciation, government initiated wage restraints and increased fuel prices

The macroeconomic targets that were set for the fiscal year 2012/2013 included: a fiscal deficit of 3.8 per cent of GDP, single-digit inflation rate and economic growth, albeit slower than the previous year. At the end of December 2012 the inflation rate as indicated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 8.0 per cent. This was 2.0 per cent higher than the 6.0 per cent reported in 2011. After remaining relatively stable for the first half of the year, the Jamaican dollar depreciated at a faster rate in the second half of the year. The average annual exchange rate at the end of the year was J$88.99 to US$1.00. This represented a 3.4 per cent depreciation of the Jamaican dollar when compared to J$86.08 to US$1.00 in 2011. The depreciation was largely due to increased speculation in the foreign exchange market as a result of the uncertainties surrounding the IMF agreement. In an effort to stabilize the Jamaican dollar, the Central Bank intervened in the market by supplying foreign currency in order to satisfy the increased demand. This impacted the level of the Net International Reserves (NIR), which at the end of 2012 was $1,125.6 million compared to US$1,966.1 million in 2011. This represented a reduction of US$840.5 million or 42.7 per cent. Preliminary international merchandise trade statistics revealed that the trade deficit increased by 1.4 per cent, moving from US$4,817.0 million in 2011 to US$4,885.1 million in 2012. The total value of imports was US$6,594.9 million in 2012, a 2.4 per cent increase when compared to 2011. This was mainly due to increases in expenditure on Mineral Fuels etcetera, Food, and Chemicals. These categories accounted for 36.2 per cent, 14.5 per cent and 14.0 per cent respectively of the total import bill. Expenditure on Mineral Fuels etcetera recorded a 3.4 per cent increase, moving from US$2,310.9 million in 2011 to US$2,390.3 million in 2012. This was due to higher world oil prices. The total value of exports moved from US$1,622.4 million in 2011 to US$1,709.8 million in 2012, reflecting a 5.4 per cent increase. Earnings from non-traditional exports grew by 22.8 per cent, moving from US$674.7 million in 2011 to US$828.3 million in 2012.

Consumer Price Index

Review 2013

Inflation for the year 2013 was 9.5 per cent as measured by the All Jamaica ‘All Divisions’ Consumer Price Index. This movement reflected an upward trend in inflation from 2011 and 2012 which had recorded rates of 6.0 and 8.0 per cent respectively. Compared to the 2012 rate, the increase for 2013 was 1.5 percentage points higher.

In 2013, the Mean Annual Index reflected an inflation rate of 9.4 per cent. This was 2.5 percentage points higher than the 6.9 per cent recorded for 2012. The fiscal year-to-date movement in the index was 6.6 per cent as at December 2013 compared to 6.2 per cent for the similar period in 2012.

The division which carries the highest weight in the compilation of the Consumer Price Index, ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ recorded an inflation rate of 7.9 per cent for the calendar year 2013. This was 6.4 percentage points lower than the 14.3 per cent that was recorded for 2012. Throughout the year, the movement in the index for the division ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ ranged from a low of 0.2 per cent in August to a high of 1.0 per cent in April when the prices for fruits, meat, bread and cereals increased.

The two groups within the division, ‘Food’ and ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ moved upward by 7.7 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively. Within the ‘Food’ group, higher prices for the class ‘Fruit’ which rose by 20.3 per cent during the year was the chief contributor. In addition, the index for ‘Milk, Cheese and Eggs’ and ‘Oils and Fats’ rose by 13.3 per cent and 11.4 per cent respectively.

Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area

The annual inflation for 2013 in the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area was 9.6 per cent. This movement was 0.4 percentage points lower than the 10.0 per cent that was reported for the 2012 calendar year. The Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area showed the second highest annual increase among the three regions and was 0.1 percentage points higher than the 9.5 per cent that was recorded for the All Jamaica ‘All Divisions’ inflation for the period. See Table ii Consumer Price Index Annual Percentage Change by Regions and Divisions 2012-2013.

Divisional Movements

The highest divisional movement that occurred in the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Areas was the 20.2 per cent rise in ‘Transport’ primarily attributable to the increase in the price of bus fares. ‘Food and Non Alcoholic Beverages’ Division recorded the second highest increase of 10.4 per cent. The increase in this division was largely influenced by the upward movement in the ‘Food’ Group of 10.4 per cent, the result of price increases for the classes ‘Fruit’ which rose by 21.6 per cent, ‘Oils and Fats which rose by 13.9 and ‘Milk, Cheese and Eggs’ which rose by 13.5 per cent. The increase of 12.9 per cent for the ‘Vegetables and Starchy Foods’ class, also had a significant impact on the movement in the division for the calendar year. The increase in the ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group of 10 per cent was brought about by the price increase of 10.7 per cent for ‘Mineral Waters, Soft Drinks, Fruit and Vegetable Juices’ class.

The Producer Price Index

Review 2013

Mining & Quarring

The Producer Price Index for the Mining and Quarrying industry increased by 9.8 per cent for the 2013 calendar year. This increase was influenced mainly by the major group ’Bauxite Mining and Alumina Processing’, which moved upwards by 10.0 per cent. This major group continues to influence the movement in the index for the industry due to its 96.5 per cent weight.

The other major group within the industry, ‘Other Mining and Quarrying’ rose by 4.5 per cent for the same period. This increase was lower than the 7.7 per cent that was recorded for 2012. The factors affecting the movement in the index for this industry throughout the year were mainly: higher output prices for alumina, movements in the exchange rate and higher fuel costs.

Manufactoring

The index for the Manufacturing industry during the year under review, recorded an upward movement of 7.1 per cent. This movement was 2.3 percentage points higher than the 4.8 per cent recorded for the previous year, 2012. Factors impacting the increase in the index for this industry throughout the year were: movements in the exchange rates (JA$ vis-à-vis the US$), higher prices for raw materials such as crude oil, wheat and corn on the international market, higher overhead costs as well as higher prices for cement. The second most heavily weighted major group ‘Refined Petroleum Products’ recorded the highest increase of 13.4 per cent in the movement of its index for the year. ’Food, Beverages & Tobacco’, the highest weighted major group registered an increase of 5.8 per cent, while the major group ‘Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products’ showed an increase of 7.6 per cent. The increases in these indexes were the main contributors to the 7.1 per cent movement in the industry.

Provides a synopsis on the statistics for a wide range of subjects including population, migration employment, production, health, finance, utilities, consumer prices, external trade, economic aggregates, crime and the environment. It includes diagrams and tables and additionally lists the current publications of the Institute.