The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) in May, 2012, compared to the previous month, increased by 147.1 million GEL (1.9 percent) and exceeded 7.9 billion GEL by June 1, 2012. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 29.4 million GEL (1.2 percent) and the volume of loans in a foreign currency increased by 117.7 million GEL (2.3 percent).

By the end of May 2012, commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 870.6 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (1.8 percent or 16.4 million GEL less compared to the previous month) and 3.5 billion GEL worth of loans in a foreign currency (2.7 percent or 91.7 million GEL more, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade - 46.8 percent. Compared with the previous month, in May, 2012 the volume of loans provided for trade decreased by 0.4 percent or 8.6 million GEL and constituted 2.0 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 20.4 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 885.5 million GEL by June 1, 2012 (6.7 percent or 55.6 million GEL more compared to the previous month). 10.0 percent fall on construction, amounting to 433.9 million GEL (2.6 percent or 10.9 million GEL more, respectively). Therefore, 77.2 percent of the total volume of lending to the legal entities falls only on three sectors - industry, construction and trade.

The volume of lending to resident individuals increased by 2.4 percent or 77.8 million GEL, during the May 2012, and exceeded 3.3 billion GEL by June 1, 2012.

Current statistical information is published on the NBG's website http://www.nbg.gov.ge/index.php?m=306&lng=eng