Money is the modern economy's mechanism for pricing and facilitating the flow of goods and services. So the health of an economy can be measured by capturing the speed at which the money available in it (the money supply) is being spent.
When consumers are feeling nervous, they will tend to save, or hoard, cash rather than spend it. Equally, if banks are reluctant to lend, less money is available for spending. That slows down its velocity and can point to trouble ahead for businesses and the wider economy.
One way of measuring velocity across an economy is to look at the ratio of a country's wealth (gross national product) to its total supply of money. The higher this is, the faster money is likely to be circulating.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
Premium Bonds winners announced – did you scoop the September jackpot?NS&I has announced the winners for September’s Premium Bonds prize draw, with two lucky savers becoming overnight millionaires. Did you win this month?
-
What is the 25x retirement rule and does it work?The 25x retirement rule has been around for decades but many experts question if it is a suitable strategy
