[ by Melanie Gretchen ]

MSRB is upgrading the market statistics on its EMMA website.  Going forward, the site will include: (i) monthly data on new issuance of municipal securities - an average of $450 billion issued each year; (ii) centralized online database that provides free public access to official disclosure documents, and, (iii) trade prices associated with municipal bonds issued in the U.S. using other information.

The MSRB and EMMA

• MSRB regularly publishes data and statistics on the municipal market, including an annual statistical Fact Book, quarterly statistics and periodic statistical reports
• MSRB is the official source of municipal primary market disclosures and is now compiling aggregate issuance statistics based on that information.
• EMMA website is a centralized online database that provides free public access to official disclosure documents and trade prices associated with municipal bonds issued in the U.S., among other information.
• Trade data on EMMA include summaries of municipal securities transaction activity for all published trades disseminated by the MSRB for every trading day since 5/15/06.

The upgrade is part of an overall redesign of EMMA’s Market Statistics section.  New muni issuance data begins as of 1/1/11, and includes:  (i) par amount issued, (ii) number of issues, and, (iii) average issue size.

For further details, go to [MSRB News Release, 9/12/12].