It seems that the American people are hoarding cash these days while the US government keeps printing money out of thin air. Check out the latest reports about the matter below.
Americans hoarding cash
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which is responsible for printing money in the US, has printed a record number of $50 bills in 2022 amounting to 756.09 million, which is worth approximately $37.8 billion.
As per CNN, the reason behind this surge in printing is due to the increase in demand for physical cash in the US, despite a decreasing trend in using cash for payments.
The San Francisco Fed conducted a Diary survey to understand consumer payment habits, which revealed that the demand for physical cash is likely due to the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic.
“While the average number of cash payments remained below pre-pandemic levels, aggregate demand for cash continued to increase.
As of October 2022, the value of currency in circulation passed $2.23 trillion, a 28 percent increase compared to February 2020,17 but with slower growth since 2021.18,19.”
The notes continued and said:
“The Diary studies since 2020 show a significant factor for this increased demand is consumer cash holdings, both on-person (cash in one’s pocket, purse, or wallet) and store-of-value holdings (cash held in one’s home, car, or elsewhere). Both measures remained elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels and emphasized that demand for cash increases during times of uncertainty.”
According to a survey conducted as part of the same report, an overwhelming 93% of respondents stated that they had no intention of ceasing the use of cash.
The report highlights a paradox between the increased use of credit cards for payments and the continued demand for physical cash. It notes that despite the growing preference for electronic payments, the desire for cash has not decreased.
One of the significant takeaways from the 2022 Diary results is that most consumers do not intend to stop using cash in the near future.
Also, about one in five consumers considers cash as their preferred payment method for in-person purchases.
This indicates a persistent demand for cash for in-person payments despite the elevated popularity of online payments compared to pre-pandemic times.
