News Release
07 March 2006

NET INTERNATIONAL RESERVES AND BASE MONEY INDICATORS

BANK OF JAMAICA
BASE MONEY INDICATORS (J$M)

End      
January 2006

  End       
February  2006


Change
  

A: CURRENCY ISSUE1/

B: COMMERCIAL BANKS
     Statutory Cash Reserves
     Current Account
2/

C: MONETARY BASE
3/
  

35,644.52

14,477.29
13,329.97
1,147.32

50,121.81

30,176.18

13,508.65
13,388.02
120.63

43,684.83


-5,782.98

704.12
204.15
499.97

-5,078.86


1/ Currency in circulation less Bank of Jamaica teller cash.

2/ Transaction balances and excess reserves. Note: Data reflect credit balances only.
    Note: Statutory cash reserve and current accounts of both commercial banks are held at the Bank of Jamaica.

3/ Monetary Base is defined as Currency Issue and Commercial Banks' Statutory Cash Reserves
    and Current Account, and is consistent with Bank of Jamaica's Operating Targets   

                   BANK OF JAMAICA’S INTERNATIONAL RESERVES (US$M)

End       
January  2006

     End      
     February  2006


Change

FOREIGN ASSETS
FOREIGN LIABILITIES
NET INTERNATIONAL RESERVES


Estimated Gross Official
Reserves in Weeks of Goods Imports
1/
Reserves in Weeks of Goods & Services Imports
1/

2,161.08
 67.60
2,093.48




26.46
18.70
2,327.51
303.27
2,024.24




28.50
20.14


166.43
235.67
-69.24
1/  Based on estimated value of imports for FY 2005/2006