The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) in November, 2011, compared to the previous month, increased by 41.0 million GEL (0.5 percent) and exceeded 7.5 billion GEL by December 1, 2011. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 69.5 million GEL (3.0 percent), while the volume of loans in a foreign currency decreased by 28.5 million GEL (0.5 percent).

By the end of November 2011, commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 825.6 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (6.0 percent or 46.8 million GEL more compared to the previous month) and 3.4 billion GEL worth of loans in a foreign currency (1.2 percent or 39.5 million GEL less, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 48.9 percent. Compared with the previous month, in November the volume of loans provided for trade decreased by 0.6 percent or 12.1 million GEL and constituted 2.1 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 19.8 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 833.2 million GEL by December 1, 2011 (1.2 percent or 10.0 million GEL more compared to the previous month). 11.4 percent fall on construction, amounting to 482.6 million GEL (3.2 percent or 15.7 million GEL less, respectively). Therefore, 80.1 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 1.3 percent or 40.6 million GEL, during the November 2011, and reached 3.1 billion GEL by December 1, 2011.

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