Banknote production in March quickened to the highest level in 5 months, data from the agency responsible for printing U.S. currency shows.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) produced 579.2 million banknotes last month, the most since October, for a combined value of nearly $14.2 billion. By comparison, the BEP in February made 512 million notes worth a bit more than $13 billion.
In percentages from the prior month, March saw 13.1% more notes and their combined value was 9.1% higher. In other month-over-month comparisons, there were:
- 18.5% more $1s;
- 10% more $5s;
- 7.7% fewer $10s;
- 18.2% more $20s; and
- 6.9% more $100s.
The BEP did not make $50s for a second month in a row after six straight months of pressing them. $2s have not been printed since July, and more are not expected for some time. The Federal Reserve noted that their FY 2016 order for $2s was enough to meet demand for "multiple years."
Compared to the same month in 2016, the number of notes grew 3.4% from 560,320,000 while their total value was 5.7% lower from $15,043,200,000.
BEP FY 2017 Production
The BEP has produced 3.285 billion notes since the start of its new fiscal year on Oct. 1. Going forward, more will be printed on average since the Fed ordered 7.1 billion banknotes for FY 2017.
Below are images of the BEP’s latest monthly production report. They show the type of banknotes manufactured at the agency’s two printing facilities.
March 2017 BEP Banknote Production
Facility at Washington, DC
Facility at Fort Worth, TX
The following table lists the type, the amount and the total value of banknotes printed by the BEP for the month:
Banknotes by Denomination: Total Printed and Values
March 2017
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 204,800,000 | 204,800,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 70,400,000 | 352,000,000 |
| $10.00 | 38,400,000 | 384,000,000 |
| $20.00 | 166,400,000 | 3,328,000,000 |
| $50.00 | – | – |
| $100.00 | 99,200,000 | 9,920,000,000 |
| Totals | 579,200,000 | 14,188,800,000 |
For comparison, four previous monthly money production tables follow.
Banknotes by Denomination: Total Printed and Values
February 2017
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 172,800,000 | 172,800,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 64,000,000 | 320,000,000 |
| $10.00 | 41,600,000 | 416,000,000 |
| $20.00 | 140,800,000 | 2,816,000,000 |
| $50.00 | – | – |
| $100.00 | 92,800,000 | 9,280,000,000 |
| Totals | 512,000,000 | 13,004,800,000 |
January 2017
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 166,400,000 | 166,400,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 80,000,000 | 400,000,000 |
| $10.00 | – | – |
| $20.00 | 140,800,000 | 2,816,000,000 |
| $50.00 | 76,800,000 | 3,840,000,000 |
| $100.00 | 92,800,000 | 9,280,000,000 |
| Totals | 556,800,000 | 16,502,400,000 |
December 2016
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 163,200,000 | 163,200,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 57,600,000 | 288,000,000 |
| $10.00 | – | – |
| $20.00 | 109,120,000 | 2,182,400,000 |
| $50.00 | 19,200,000 | 960,000,000 |
| $100.00 | 74,240,000 | 7,424,000,000 |
| Totals | 423,360,000 | 11,017,600,000 |
November 2016
| Banknotes | Total Printed | Total Value ($) |
| $1.00 | 185,600,000 | 185,600,000 |
| $2.00 | – | – |
| $5.00 | 70,400,000 | 352,000,000 |
| $10.00 | – | – |
| $20.00 | 154,240,000 | 3,084,800,000 |
| $50.00 | 57,600,000 | 2,880,000,000 |
| $100.00 | 70,400,000 | 7,040,000,000 |
| Totals | 538,240,000 | 13,542,400,000 |
Federal Reserve data indicates that there was approximately $1.54 trillion in circulation as of April 5, 2017, of which $1.49 trillion was in Federal Reserve notes.
"Recent estimates show that between one-half and two-thirds of the value of U.S. currency in circulation is held abroad," the BEP notes.
As a perspective, the BEP in FY 2016 delivered its 7.6 billion notes at an average cost of 10 cents each. More than 90% of those printed were for replacing those already in, or taken out of circulation.
