Bank of Jamaica Profile picture
Jun 24, 2021 20 tweets 7 min read Read on X
We’re baaack!

#BOJSpeaks
#FinanceTwitterJa 🧵 Image
2: Oh, boy…it’s been a strange and really busy time with many things going on all at once, so please bear with us!
3. Although we’ve kept you abreast in several other ways, the last time we took a comprehensive look at inflation trends with a thread here on Twitter, believe it or not, was last November! 🤦🏾‍♂️Let’s catch up from there.
4. In December 2020, the inflation outturn was within target at 5.2%, and lower than the 6.2% recorded in December 2019. The outturn was driven largely by higher vegetable prices and electricity rates. Image
5. For some context, we should remind you here that last year ended with fears that recent flood rains would so disrupt agricultural food prices that the inflation path would drift above target.
6. Not to blow our own trumpet or anything (especially since we have no idea how to blow a trumpet) but you might recall we responded by reassuring you that if any breach occurred, it would be temporary. Image
7. In keeping with that reassurance, in terms of inflation, the year got off to a good start, with the January 2021 result coming in within target at 4.7%. Again, this result was lower than the previous year, when January 2020 came in at 5.2%. Image
8. Reflecting a reduction in prices for vegetables and starchy foods plus a decline in electricity rates, price levels in January 2021 decreased by 1.6% relative to December 2020. Image
9. Annual point to point inflation in February 2021 stood at 3.8%, just below BOJ’s 4-6% target range, and well below the 5.9 % recorded in February 2020. This result was largely influenced by reductions in vegetable and starchy food prices. Image
10. Such a low-key result in February was definitely not a good look for Valentine’s Day, 💔😥but the good news is that things are looking better already! Image
11. Inflation was quickly back within target range in March, coming in at 5.2%, higher than the 4.8% recorded in March 2020. This result reflected increases in house rental costs and electricity rates, in addition to increases in the prices of starchy foods and vegetables. Image
12. Inflation dipped again in April, coming in below the target range at 3.8 %. This was also below the 5.5% recorded in April 2020. This result was powered by a month over month decrease in electricity rates as well as lower agricultural prices. Image
13. April also saw the formal renewal of the inflation target range at 4-6% Image
14. And now for the latest figures - *drumroll* - the annual point-to-point inflation result for May 2021 was dead on target at 5.0%, smack in the middle of the 4-6% target range. This result was above the 4.7% recorded in May 2020. Image
15. Among other factors, this result reflected the impact of higher grain prices, increases in the prices of starchy foods, plus higher petrol, electricity, and sewage prices. Image
16. Looking forward, yes, we’ve noted the increasing commodity prices, the shipping prices, and increased inflation elsewhere, and yes, these factors will have some impact, but once again, as we did after last year’s flood rains, we can assure you that there’s no need to panic.
17. This is especially because we don’t expect these prices to keep increasing, and so we don’t expect them to push the entire inflation path out of line. Image
18. No central bank can prevent external shocks, but if these factors do disturb our target at any time, what we promise is to bring inflation back in line quickly and not allow any deviation to become a trend.
19. Just as we did last year, and as we’ve been doing all year, rain or drought, pandemic or not, we intend to keep inflation fairly low and under control, even if we have to call in Spice, Shaggy and Sean Paul to help!
20. Thank you for your kind attention!🙏🏾

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More from @CentralBankJA

Mar 19, 2021
BOJ's focus on inflation targeting and management of the FX market both have a context, and that context, as we have explained before, is the ongoing economic reform programme supported by both political parties and built on the sacrifice of the Jamaican people: 🧵
#BOJSpeaks
2. It is the existence of that economic reform programme - fiscal discipline, a flexible exchange rate, inflation targeting, and all - that provides the economic resilience to ensure that the pain of 1 year of COVID-19 and counting is not a hundred times worse.
#FinanceTwitterJA
3. The first and most important thing on the list was a radical shift away from debt-dependence and fiscal dominance towards fiscal responsibility and returning to a private-sector fuelled economy. Without this step first, nothing else on the list would have been possible.
Read 8 tweets
Dec 1, 2020
We’re baaack!

#BOJSpeaks
#FinanceTwitterJA 🧵
2. Yes, it’s been a minute since our last inflation thread, there’s a lot to catch up on, and we’re sorry it’s been so long, but oh, boy…what can we say? It’s been a strange and hectic year, and like our friends at @rocketshipja would tell you, it’s been a case of:
3. We’ve heard the vicious rumours, too - that we’ve forgotten our fans and followers who read these inflation threads, because we’ve graduated to an inflation TV show and that we “get rich an’ switch.”
Read 31 tweets
Aug 13, 2020
Presenting....the ultimate lowdown on inflation, via a Western movie-themed yarn featuring Croc. O. Doyle in his debut acting role as the new Sheriff in town...enjoy!
#BOJSpeaks #FinanceTwitterJA
2. Artistically, the story borrows from and pays parody homage to the spaghetti western film genre, which partially inspired Jamaica’s own global cult classic film, The Harder They Come, and spaghetti western-inspired video games like the Red Dead series.
3. Inflation targeting is rather complex, and not to be compared with the simplicity of shooting at a target, as it’s not really about precisely hitting a static target every single time. Economics in general, and monetary policy in particular, is hardly ever that simple.
Read 28 tweets
Jul 28, 2020
We’re baaack!
#BOJSpeaks #FinanceTwitterJA 🧵
2. Yes, COVID-19 stalled STATIN for a bit, delaying the inflation data, but in any case, we also thought it would be in poor taste to keep going on about inflation in the early throes of a pandemic. But now STATIN is back and we’re in economic recovery mode, so here we are.
3. It’s great to have the inflation data to examine again, since inflation is about expectations, and growing pessimism during a crisis is normal, especially without data. It becomes easy for us to fear that all indicators including inflation will run off in the wrong direction.
Read 13 tweets
Jul 27, 2020
BOJ invites comments on its recently published discussion paper on Macroprudential Policy Tools. The paper discusses macroprudential policy and effective implementation. This thread highlights the paper; for full details, read it here: bit.ly/39ux0JY
#BOJSpeaks 🧵
2. Macroprudential policy entails the use of prudential actions to contain systemic risks, that if realized, would cause widespread implications for the overall financial system and the real economy.
#FinanceTwitter
3. Effective macroprudential policy requires the ability to detect risk to financial system stability, the formulation and application of appropriate instruments, and the communication of such actions to relevant stakeholders and the public at large.
Read 17 tweets
May 12, 2020
On Thursday May 7, 2020, BOJ held a virtual press conference to update local and some regional journalists on the recently announced FINTECH Regulatory Sandbox.
#BOJSpeaks #FinanceTwitterJA 🧵
2. The press conference was addressed by Governor Byles, Deputy Governor in charge of Banking and Currency Operations and Financial Markets Infrastructure, Mrs. Natalie Haynes, and also the Director-General of Jamaica’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Mr. Ansord Hewitt.
3. The Fintech Regulatory Sandbox became effective on 16 March 2020.
Read 30 tweets

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