Measures of money supply, also known as monetary aggregates, are statistics that track the amount of money in circulation within an economy. These measures provide insights into the overall level of economic activity and can be used to inform monetary policy decisions made by central banks. There are several different measures of money supply, each of which captures different aspects of the money in circulation and serves a specific purpose.
One common measure of money supply is known as M1, which includes physical currency, demand deposits (i.e. checking accounts), and other highly liquid assets that can be quickly converted into cash. M1 is considered a narrow measure of money supply because it only includes the most liquid forms of money.
A broader measure of money supply is known as M2, which includes M1 plus less liquid assets such as savings accounts, money market securities, and small-denomination time deposits. M2 is a more comprehensive measure of money supply because it includes a wider range of assets that can be used as a medium of exchange.
Another measure of money supply is M3, which includes M2 plus larger-denomination time deposits and repurchase agreements. M3 is the broadest measure of money supply and is often used as an indicator of the overall money supply within an economy.
Central banks use measures of money supply to inform their monetary policy decisions. For example, if the money supply is growing too quickly, it can lead to inflation as there is more money available to purchase goods and services. In this case, a central bank may choose to implement measures such as raising interest rates or selling government securities to reduce the money supply and curb inflation.
In summary, measures of money supply are important indicators of economic activity and are used by central banks to inform their monetary policy decisions. M1, M2, and M3 are the most commonly used measures of money supply, with M1 being the narrowest and M3 being the broadest. Understanding these measures can help provide insights into the overall health of an economy and can be used to make informed financial decisions.