US Government Debt Monetization Watch: The Fed Leads the Charge

``According to 4th quarter Federal Reserve Flow of Funds data, central banks; i.e., the Federal Reserve and foreign central banks, monetized US government debt (US Treasury debt and the guaranteed debt of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) at an annual rate of nearly $600 billion in the 4th quarter 2012.  That's up from a $275 billion annual rate in the 3rd quarter and a $235 billion rate in the 4th quarter 2011.  The jump in 4th quarter monetization activity was due to a $424 billion showing by the Federal Reserve, that being the result of the September 13th implementation of its QE3 $40 billion per month Agency/MBS asset purchase program.''