National Statistical Office Reports on February's Socioeconomic Indicators

By K.TUGCHIN

The National Statistical Office released its monthly report on socioeconomic indicators of the country last week. Below are the February 2016 socioeconomic indicators of Mongolia.

Unemployment

The number of unemployed reached 35,100 at the end of February 2016, which is an increase of 1,300 (3.9 percent) compared to the same period of the previous year and an increase of 500 (1.4 percent) compared to January.

In the first two months of 2016, Social Insurance Fund revenue amounted to 240.7 billion MNT, reflecting an increase of 50.7 billion MNT (26.7 percent), and the expenditure of the fund reached 264.9 billion MNT, a rise of 33.7 billion MNT (14.6 percent) compared to last year. The fund issued a total of 23.7 billion MNT in pensions and welfare benefits from the Social Welfare Fund to 176,400 recipients. The number of pensioners and welfare recipients increased by 17,000 (10.6 percent) compared to the same period last year, and the amount issued increased by 1.9 billion MNT (8.5 percent).

Money Supply

According to Mongol Bank, money supply (broad money or M2) reached 10 trillion MNT at the end of February 2016. It increased by 142 billion MNT (1.4 percent) from the previous month, and decreased by 237.7 billion MNT (2.3 percent) compared to the same period of last year.

At the end of February 2016, currency issued in circulation reached 655.5 billion MNT, a decrease of 58.2 billion MNT (8.2 percent) from the previous month and a decrease of 120.4 billion MNT (15.5 percent) compared to last year.

Lending

Loans outstanding amounted to 11.6 trillion MNT at the end of February 2016, 155.6 billion MNT (1.3 percent) lower than the previous month and 549.5 billion MNT (4.5 percent) lower than the same period last year.

Principals in arrears reached 974.5 billion MNT at the end of February 2016, increased by 35.6 billion MNT (3.8 percent) from January and by 576.4 billion MNT (2.4 times) compared to the same period in 2015.

At the end of February 2016, nonperforming loans over the banking system reached 889.1 billion MNT, an increase of 4.8 billion MNT (0.5 percent) from the previous month and of 222.1 billion MNT (33.3 percent) compared to the same period of the previous year.

Financial Market

In February 2016, 35.6 million shares worth 51.5 billion MNT were traded on the stock market. The total turnover of stocks decreased by 60.1 billion MNT (53.8...