BOJ’s stock of currency increases 27 % per annum at the end of December 2025
/ Our Today
administrator
During the last five work days of December 2025 (December 23 to 31), the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) issued currency of $14.1 billion, which was $13.1 billion more than the $0.9 billion it redeemed from the financial system during that time.
This net currency issue of $13.1 billion for the period contributed to an overall growth of $21.7 billion or 7.2 per cent in the currency stock for December 2025 relative to the previous month. The rate of growth in currency issue for the month was largely in line with the Bank’s projection for growth of $21.0 billion or 7.0 per cent, but lower than the 8.0 per cent growth recorded for December 2024.
At 31 December 2025, the stock of currency was $322.3 billion (see Figure 1 above), representing an annual increase of 12.7 per cent, compared to an annual growth of 3.1 per cent at end-December 2024.
This greater increase reflects, in part, the impacts of Hurricane Melissa on precautionary cash demand, increased remittance receipts, and an uptick in inflation. Economic rebound for year-to-September 2025 relative to Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 also contributed to higher levels of the currency stock. When the estimated change in consumer prices is considered, the currency stock in real terms is estimated to have grown by 7.1 per cent over the period, compared to the real decline of 1.8 per cent for the corresponding period in 2024.
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