The needfor accurate, comprehensive, and reliable monetary and financial data acrosscountries has been underscored by modern episodes of financial instability, inparticular that of 2008–2009. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has takenthe lead in promoting methodologically sound and internationally comparablemonetary and financial statistics. In 2000, the IMF published the Monetary andFinancial Statistics Manual (MFSM), followed in 2008 by its accompanyingCompilation Guide (MFS Guide).

ThisMonetary and Financial Statistics Manual and Compilation Guide (Manual) updatesand merges into one volume methodological and practical aspects of thecompilation process of monetary statistics. The Manual is aimed at compilersand users of monetary data, offering guidance for the collection and analyticalpresentation of monetary statistics. The Manual includes standardized reportforms, providing countries with a tool for compiling and reporting harmonizeddata for the central bank, other depository corporations, and other financial

corporations.

Themethodology and concepts described in the Manual are consistent with otheracroeconomic data sets, including the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008SNA), the sixth edition of the Balance of Payments and International InvestmentPosition Manual (BPM6), the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014),and the publication by the United Nations and the European Central Bank of thehandbook on Financial Production, Flows and Stocks in the System of NationalAccounts. This consistency underscores the close relationship existing betweenthe different macroeconomic statistical systems.

TheManual has been prepared by the Statistics Department, in consultation with agroup of experts of national central banks, statistical offices, and otherinternational organizations. Earlier versions of the Manual were posted on theIMF’s website for comments by the general public. I would like to thank all ofthe experts involved for their invaluable assistance and for theircollaborative spirit.

Wepublish this Manual in the expectation that it will assist member countries intheir efforts to improve the process of compiling and disseminatinghigh-quality monetary and financial statistics. I encourage member countries toadopt the guidelines of the Manual.

TheMonetary and Financial Statistics Manual and Compilation Guide (Manual) updatesand merges into one volume methodological and practical aspects of thecompilation process of monetary and financial statistics. The Manual sets forththe broad framework for the collection and presentation of these statistics andprovides specific recommendations for the classification, sectoring, valuation,and recording of various categories of financial assets and liabilities in aneconomy. The Manual was produced by the IMF’s Statistics Department (STA) aspart of its mandate to provide leadership on the development and application ofsound statistical methodologies and practices.

Theconcepts, accounting principles, and other methodological elements of thisManual are harmonized with those of the System of National Accounts 2008 (2008SNA), the sixth edition of the Balance of Payments and International InvestmentPosition Manual (BPM6), the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014),and the handbook on Financial Production, Flows and Stocks in the System ofNational Accounts published by the United Nations and the European CentralBank. Since the main source data for monetary statistics are the accountingrecords of the financial corporations, this Manual elaborates on therelationship between monetary and financial statistics and internationallyaccepted accounting standards, in particular the International Financial ReportingStandards (IFRSs).

Thepurpose of this Manual is to support compilers of monetary and financialstatistics in the production of methodologically sound and cross-countrycomparable monetary data. It provides a set of tools for identifying, classifying,and recording stocks and flows of financial assets and liabilities; itdescribes standardized, analytically oriented frameworks in which monetarystatistics may be presented; and it identifies a set of analytically useful aggregateswithin those frameworks.