The overall money supply, “M4”, widened by LBP 204.67 billion during the week of December 20, 2018 and by 1.50% on an annual basis to LBP 222,406 billion, noting that the non-banking sector’s Treasury bills portfolio rose by LBP 22 billion during the concerned week.

Concurrently, Lebanese-Pound denominated deposits and currency in circulation, “M1”, increased by LBP 119.35 billion week-on-week to LBP 11,052 billion on the back of some LBP 173 billion expansion in demand deposits, which outweighed the LBP 54 billion drop in money in circulation. On a yearly basis, “M1” grew by 5.56%. Local currency term deposits, “M2”, however, fell by LBP 102.21 billion on a weekly basis and by 3.47% year-on-year to settle at LBP 76,171 billion.

Consequently, private sector term and saving deposits denominated in LBP (“M2-M1”) receded by LBP 221.56 billion (0.34%) to LBP 65,119 billion during the third week of December, while deposits denominated in foreign currencies (“M3-M2”) soared by LBP 284.58 billion (0.21%) to reach LBP 134,720 billion.