–CBL Data Shows Marginal Rise in Dollar Rates as Market Selling Rate Reaches L$182.6091
MONROVIA, LIBERIA — The Liberian dollar has recorded a marginal decline against the United States dollar over the latest six-day period, with the indicative market buying and selling rates published by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) showing a gradual increase in the amount of Liberian dollars required to buy or sell US$1.
According to data from the CBL’s Financial Markets Department, the market buying rate rose from L$180.5858 per US$1 on August 8 to L$180.6784 on August 13, an increase of L$0.0926, or roughly 0.05 percent.
The indicative selling rate also moved upward over the same period, increasing from L$182.4999 per US$1 on August 8 to L$182.6091 on August 13—a rise of L$0.1092, or approximately 0.06 percent.
The movements point to a relatively stable foreign-exchange market over the period, with only a modest change in the Liberian dollar’s indicative value against the US dollar.
Rates Show Limited Movement
The CBL figures show that the exchange rate remained within a relatively narrow range throughout the period.
On August 9, the buying rate stood at L$180.6130, before rising to L$180.6465 on August 10 and L$180.6815 on August 11.
The rate then climbed to L$180.7069 on August 12, before easing slightly to L$180.6784 on August 13.
The selling rate followed a similar pattern, moving from L$182.4999 on August 8 to L$182.5345 on August 9, L$182.5698 on August 10, and L$182.6049 on August 11.
It reached L$182.6377 on August 12 before slipping slightly to L$182.6091 on August 13.
The data therefore suggest that while the Liberian dollar experienced some day-to-day fluctuations, the overall movement between August 8 and August 13 was modest.
Dollar Remains Above L$182 at Selling Rate
At the latest rate published for August 13, a US$1 was being bought at an indicative rate of L$180.6784 and sold at L$182.6091.
This creates a difference of approximately L$1.9307 between the indicative buying and selling rates.
For consumers and businesses that depend heavily on US-dollar transactions, even relatively small exchange-rate movements can affect the local-currency cost of imported goods, foreign-denominated services and other dollar-linked transactions.
However, the six-day movement shown in the CBL data does not indicate a sharp exchange-rate shift. Instead, the figures point to a largely stable market with a slight upward movement in the Liberian-dollar amount quoted against the US dollar.
CBL Clarifies Its Role
The Central Bank emphasized that the published figures are indicative rates, rather than rates directly imposed by the monetary authority.
According to the CBL, the figures are based on daily surveys of the foreign-exchange market in Monrovia and selected cities across Liberia and are collected from commercial banks, parallel markets and licensed foreign-exchange bureaus.
“The Central Bank of Liberia does not set the rates,” the CBL states in its accompanying notice.
The distinction is important because actual rates offered to customers can vary among commercial banks, forex bureaus and other market participants.
The latest figures are therefore best viewed as a snapshot of prevailing market conditions rather than a fixed official exchange rate.
What the Movement Means
The gradual rise in both buying and selling quotations means that, compared with August 8, slightly more Liberian dollars were required by August 13 for each US dollar at the indicative market rates.
For businesses engaged in imports, individuals receiving or making dollar payments, and consumers whose purchasing costs are influenced by imported goods, exchange-rate movements remain an important economic indicator.
At the same time, the relatively small change over the six-day period suggests that the market did not experience a major shift during the period covered by the CBL data.
The Financial Markets Department of the Central Bank of Liberia remains the source of the published figures.
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