Dollar Fell in December

The average monthly value for the trade-weighted dollar index of 15 major currencies tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta fell 1.3 percent in December from the previous month. The dollar posted the greatest decrease in the European subindex with a 3.7 percent decline. The Americas subindex rose 1.8 percent while the Pacific-excluding-Japan subindex fell 0.9 percent. The Pacific index declined 2.9 percent. The classic subindex, which is the analogue of the original Atlanta index, was down 1.9 percent. The overall index was 9.8 percent above its year-ago level in December. On a daily basis, the overall index rose 13.7 percent from the low reached on March 18 to the end of December. The daily index was 9.1 percent above its value at the end of December 2007.

The Atlanta Fed index is based on 1995–97 bilateral trade weights for 15 currencies. The European subindex includes the European Monetary Union, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Pacific subindex includes Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. The Americas subindex includes Brazil, Canada and Mexico. The overall dollar index includes the Saudi Arabian riyal along with the foregoing 14 currencies. The classic subindex includes the European Monetary Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and Canada. All figures are indexes and not actual exchange rates. A rise in the index or subindex reflects a strengthening of the dollar against currencies included.

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