5.7.3 Packed Decimal Variables
  A packed decimal (DECIMAL data type) variable is made
  up of several storage locations, the number of which de-
  pends on the declared size of the variable. However, a packed
  decimal variable is still referred to by a single variable name.

  When you declare a packed decimal variable, you specify the
  total number of digits and the number of digits to the right of
  the decimal place that you want.

  The following statement creates a packed decimal variable
  named My_decimal , which can contain up to 8 digits: 6 digits
  to the left of the decimal point and 2 digits to the right of the
  decimal point.
  OPTION TYPE = EXPLICIT
  DECLARE DECIMAL (8,2) My_decimal

  Packed decimal numbers are most useful for dollars-and-
  cents calculations.