Euro cash is as popular as ever

Abstract

More than seven years have passed since the launch of euro banknotes and coins. Following the smooth cash changeover, the number of euro banknotes and coins in circulation has grown faster than foreseen, and demand for euro banknotes has also increased outside the euro area. At the same time, cooperation between euro area central banks in the field of cash management has increased and the efficiency gains of the single currency have been successfully exploited. A number of new challenges have also emerged.