The amount of Bermuda dollar notes and coin in circulation over the coming holiday period will be $118.6 million — up 4.5 percent on last year.

The Bermuda Monetary Authority announced yesterday that this compared with a reported total of $113.6 million at the same point in 2005.

The total net amount of notes and coins issued to the banks by the BMA between December 1 and December 20 was $9.2 million. This compares with a figure of $13 million during the same period last year.

“Christmas is traditionally a period when the figure for notes and coin in circulation rises,” the BMA statement added. “This seasonal peak is normally reversed very quickly after the holiday.”