tokyo dec 9 reuters  the total amount of money circulating in japan rose at the slowest annual pace in 19 months in november as firms and households saw less need to hoard cash with the economy emerging from the initial shock caused by the covid19 crisis the data underscores how japans economy is normalising from last years pandemic crunch and will likely be among data the bank of japan will scrutinise in debating next week whether to phase out pandemicrelief fund schemes read more japans m2 money stock a measure on the total amount of money available in the economy rose 40 in november from a year earlier bank of japan data showed on thursday slowing from a 42 gain in october it was the smallest annual increase since a 37 gain in april last year the average amount of cash at 11758 trillion yen 1034 trillion hit a fresh record as the central bank continued to print money to cushion the economic blow from the pandemic the balance of money stock remains at historical levels with the slowdown largely a reaction to last years surge theres no big change in the uptrend in money stock a boj official told a briefing the boj ramped up purchases of corporate bonds and commercial paper and introduced a loan scheme aimed at channelling funds to small firms via financial institutions last year to combat a cash crunch caused by the pandemic the recent spread of the omicron new variant complicates the bojs decision expected to be made as early as next weeks rate review on whether to phase out the programmes when they reach their current deadline in march 2022