Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday: GDP Growth; Job Report; Inflation; Gas prices; Today's Weather; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday, October 19, 2023 Jamaica’s economy grew by 2.3% in Q2 Jamaica's economy grew by 2.3 per cent during the second quarter of the year, when compared to the corresponding period in 2022, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). STATIN’s Director General, Carol Coy, gave the update Wednesday, during the Institute’s quarterly media briefing. She disclosed that the growth was reflected in the services and goods producing industries, which grew by 2.2 and 2.6 per cent, respectively. She also noted that the value added of all service industries increased, except for 'Wholesale and Retail Trade', 'Repairs, Installation of Machinery and Equipment' and 'Producers of Government Services'. 47,000 jobs added to payrolls The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that in July 2023, there were 1,315,100 employed people in the country, 47,000 more when compared to the corresponding period of 2022. STATIN said there was an increase, mostly males, in persons employed in the occupation group ‘Elementary Occupations’, while more females were employed as ‘Service Workers and Shop and Market Sales Workers’ and ‘Clerks’. The largest increase in employment by industry was in ‘Real Estate and Other Business Services’ and ‘Construction’. The unemployment rate was 4.5 per cent, 2.1 percentage points lower than in July 2022. Consumer Price Index up 0.5% in September There was a 0.5 per cent increase in the All-Jamaica Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September 2023 resulting in the index moving from 132.2 to 132.9 in September. The main contributor to this movement was an 11.8 per cent rise in the index of the ‘Education’ division, due to higher tuition fees for private schools at the primary level, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). STATIN shared that the inflation rate was also impacted by the 0.7 per cent ‘Transport’ division, mainly as a result of higher petrol prices. Advertisement Gas prices down marginally Motorists will pay $0.25 less for gasoline when they fill up at the pumps as of today, Thursday October 19. This is according to the latest price listing from Petrojem, the state-owned oil refinery. According to the listing, 87 octane gasoline will sell for $182.77 per litre while a litre of 90 octane will sell for $188.85 per litre. Automotive diesel oil has been increased by $4.50 and will be sold for $189.77 per litre, while ultra low sulphur diesel is also up in price by $4.50 and will be sold for $198.16 per litre. Jamaica observes World Trauma Day The Ministry of Health & Wellness, supported by the Spotlight Initiative and the Pan-American Health Organisation, [commemorated World Trauma Day on Tuesday]( October 17 with the rollout of a series of training and sensitisation sessions for healthcare workers. Some 240 workers were invited to participate in the sessions, which have as their focus ‘Comprehensive Training on the Management of Interpersonal Violence, including Gender-based Violence, Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Assault’. The sessions will run across the island’s four health regions until November 2023. TODAY'S WEATHER FORECAST Partly cloudy conditions are expected to dominate this morning, according to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, In the afternoon, it is expected to become cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms mainly across central and western parishes. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING WATCH: Seven arrested for extortion in Half-Way-Tree Seven men were arrested in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, on Wednesday after personnel from the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch [continued Operations Transportation Streamline]( where extortionists of private passenger vehicle (PPV) operators within the Corporate Area are targeted. More than 320 devices suspected to be explosives found in Kingston Western A joint police-military intelligence operation at a premises on Darling Street in the Kingston Western Police Division on Monday, led to the [discovery of more than 320 devices that are suspected to be explosives](. Viral video spurs investigation in Troy, Trelawny Detectives assigned to the Trelawny Police Division have [launched an investigation into a video posted on social media]( on Tuesday, October 17, which has caught the attention of local authorities and the wider public. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY US stock market crashes On this day in 1987, the US stock market crashed as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 508 points, or 22.6 per cent in value (its biggest daily percentage loss), to close at 1,738.74 in what came to be known as “Black Monday.” For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.