
The most recent "photograph" that the Bank of Albania has made of the volume of foreign coins and banknotes in the economy, speaks of quite high amounts at the end of October. According to its official data, at the end of October there is a total equivalent of 61.1 billion lek of currency coins and currency cards circulating in the official channels, an increase of almost 2 billion lek compared to September, while the increase is much higher visible compared to August, where their volume was ALL 13.5 billion. The month with the highest value of coins and banknotes was April, when their total was over ALL 108 billion.
The increase in the presence of foreign currencies in our financial market comes at a time when October marked a decrease in our national currency in circulation outside the banking sector. According to official data, for the first time since the summer months, money in circulation outside banks in the country has decreased.
The Bank of Albania reports that from ALL 408 billion in September, it has fallen to ALL 405.5 billion at the end of October, decreasing by almost ALL 3 billion in the 30-day period, but by more than ALL 5 billion compared to August. when the record value of ALL 410.6 billion was recorded. Meanwhile, the volume of money in circulation outside the banking system has been very high throughout the year.
The figures are much higher if we compare them with previous years. In January 2022, the total amount of money circulating outside the banks was slightly more than 376 billion ALL, almost 25 billion ALL, or about 340 million euros less than what is currently circulating. This indicator has been increasing throughout the past year to culminate at the end of it at over 400 billion ALL.