Introduction

Regular compilation and dissemination of official monetary and financial statistics in Macao began following the establishment of the predecessor of the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) – the Issuing Institute of Macao – in the early 1980s.  According to Decree Law No. 62/96/M on “Statistical Information System of Macao”, the AMCM and the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) are specified as the only official statistics production units in the territory. The AMCM has endowed by law with the “technical autonomy” and “independent authority” in compiling and disseminating official monetary and financial statistics.  Meanwhile, Article 11 of Annex to Decree Law No. 14/96/M (AMCM By-Laws) explicitly states that compilation and dissemination of monetary, financial and foreign exchange statistics is a function of the AMCM. 

During the recent years, the AMCM has continued to widen the scope of the official statistics falling within its mandate and strived to enhance the quality, integrity and public accessibility of its statistical outputs.  There is currently a comprehensive coverage of various categories of official financial statistics, including monetary and credit aggregates (since 1984), monetary authority and other monetary institutions aggregates (since 1984), interest rates (since 1984), international reserves (since 1984), exchange rates (since 1984), credit card business (since 2007), international banking business (since 2007), mortgage loans (since 2008), small and medium-sized enterprise credit (since 2008), external portfolio investment (since 2001) and balance of payments (since 2002).

In order to align with international statistical standards, Macao has participated in the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 10 August 2007.  Details on compilation methodologies and dissemination channels of Macao’s major official statistics are now available in the IMF’s Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board. 

The Research and Statistics Department of the AMCM is charged with the responsibility for compilation and dissemination of official financial statistics in Macao.