To expand a bit more, there are many different definitions of money. Here are some measurable ones, roughly defined: M0 - Currency in Circulation, physical coi

To expand a bit more, there are many different definitions of money. Here are some measurable ones, roughly defined: M0 - Currency in Circulation, physical coins and notes in public circulation. MB - Monetary Base, M0 + physical coins and notes held in bank vaults. M1 - Money, M0 + checking accounts (excludes bank vaults). M2 - Money and Close Substitutes, M1 + time deposits (CDs, bonds, etc.) M3 - Broad Money, M2 + money market funds, repurchase agreements, other wacky shit. Wikipedia has more detail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_supply https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_supply Here's a graph of different monies over time: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/MB,_M1_and_M2_aggregates_from_1981_to_2012.png https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/MB,_M1_and_M2... On the other hand, credit is very difficult to measure since people borrow and lend from each other all the time. Interestingly, M2 is larger now than before the 2008 crash, but money+credit is smaller than it had been.