Venezuela money supply up 200 percent in year, fastest rise on record

Crisis-stricken Venezuela's money supply has surged over 200 percent in a year, its fastest rise since records began in 1940, putting it on track for what is likely the world's highest inflation. Soon after a month-long hiatus from publication, the central bank said late on Friday the total amount of local currency in circulation - known as M2 by economists - as of March 24 was 13.3 trillion bolivars, up 202.9 percent from a year earlier. In contrast, the United States' money supply was up 6.4 percent in the same period. More…