Can we count the ways?
Reader CB poses an interesting question:
“For you deep thinkers, I would appreciate some assistance with a tough question:
How many dollars (American) exist?”
It’s a fitting question for the Federal Reserve thread where it appears, but the thread is getting longish and the question deserves its own space. So here it is.
Hmmm … no deep thinkers having weighed in yet, I’ll take a stab at it. The first hurdle is that the number is constantly changing, so any specific number would be outdated before I could finish typing it.
Another hurdle is that it depends on how you define dollars. One measure would be actual paper currency in circulation, cash. Another would be M1, the total of cash and demand deposits (checking accounts). Another broader measure would be M2, the total of M1 plus less liquid forms like savings accounts and money market funds.
For the actual numbers, I know of no better source than FRED, which publishes snapshot estimates at regular intervals like weekly, monthly, etcetera, historical data series and detailed identification of what each data series includes.
Its almost impossible to calculate ……………..how many stars?
Mega’s dispatch from England:- Like tears in rain
As expect the PM, our beloved “Leader” took time out spending time with his young Ukraine male friends to visit Parliament today. It was the big welfare reform vote & he raised the white flag faster than Carny did in Canada to Trump over on line taxes & rules.
In short he folded up like a wet newspaper.
So, having smelt blood the pack is now circling…….the hard left of the Labour party wants its party back. Starmer’s time is limited now but what caught everyone’s eye is the reaction to the loss by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
She sat next to the PM & openly cried when he in the process of surrender. He refused to back her & she was deeply distressed.
THe question is why?
Because of Starmer back tracking on winter fuel payments & now this it is now a dead cert that taxes will have to go up YET again? We are already the most taxed public since WW2 & let me assure you not a day goes by were the government has stepped in to bailout everything from Rail transport to Lotus sports cars.
Am not sure but i suspect the IMF will be calling in on Blighty & they only play ball IF the nation has a leader …..one that’s will to play HARD ball.
Mike
Trump’s bill past?
Happy 4th July everyone………… 🙂
& remember your all free because Russia sent its navy to protect you during the civil war!
Happy Fourth!🧨🎆
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/trump-has-proved-his-doubters-wrong/