Press Release: Euro banknotes and coins: five years in, people are at ease with the euro, but need to be better informed

Five years after they were first brought into circulation, euro banknotes and coins are a well-established and familiar part of daily life for euro-area residents. The amount of cash in circulation has grown steadily to reach a value of more than €600 billion at the end of 2006 as the euro is increasingly used outside as well as in the euro area. But although euro-area residents are generally happy with their shared currency, many still associate it with price increases or are not fully aware of its advantages, which shows the need for better communication at all levels – especially from national politicians.