Fed rarely "prints" money. There are exceptional moments maybe once per decade, when times are extremely critical. But what most people call "printing" is just lacking supply of money in the system, that has to be filled. Why is it getting bigger every year? Because of banking system. Credit system, where banks don't have to have any reserves, while making huge loans. When banks are making loans, they are producing new money (bank is loaning you $10.000, you have to pay back $11500) Do they have those $10.000 on their account? No. That USD currency is made out from nothing. Magic :)