The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) in April, 2012, compared to the previous month, decreased by 49.8 million GEL (0.6 percent) and constituted 7.8 billion GEL by May 1, 2012. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 50.9 million GEL (2.0 percent) and the volume of loans in a foreign currency decreased by 100.7 million GEL (1.9 percent).

By the end of April 2012, commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 887.0 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (1.9 percent or 16.3 million GEL more compared to the previous month) and 3.4 billion GEL worth of loans in a foreign currency (2.8 percent or 98.5 million GEL less, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade - 47.8 percent. Compared with the previous month, in April, 2012 the volume of loans provided for trade decreased by 1.2 percent or 25.3 million GEL and constituted 2.0 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 19.5 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 829.8 million GEL by May 1, 2012 (5.0 percent or 43.4 million GEL less compared to the previous month). 9.9 percent fall on construction, amounting to 423.0 million GEL (4.6 percent or 20.4 million GEL less, 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 0.2 percent or 7.8 million GEL, during the April 2012, and exceeded 3.2 billion GEL by May 1, 2012.

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