The amount of investment certificates issued by the Central Bank reported as “money in circulation” in the bank’s data sheets has reached RD$139 billion. As of the first of July, this represents an increase of RD$28.23 billion in relation to the close of business in December 2004. The increase in certificates of deposit comes in spite of the Monetary Board having applied a progressively larger reduction in the interest paid for the different time periods of 30, 90 and 180 days. In only 30 days, according to the Listin Diario, the Central Bank captured RD$889.3 million pesos. Interest has decreased from a high of 61% just over a year ago to 13% for 30-day deposits and 15% for 180-day deposits. Both of these rates are lower by one percentage point than the previous month’s offerings.