The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) in October, 2011, compared to the previous month, increased by 68.0 million GEL (0.9 percent) and reached 7.5 billion GEL by November 1, 2011. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 35.2 million GEL (1.6 percent), while the volume of loans in a foreign currency increased by 32.8 million GEL (0.6 percent).

By the end of October 2011, commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 778.8 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (1.6 percent or 13.0 million GEL less compared to the previous month) and 3.4 billion GEL worth of loans in a foreign currency (1.4 percent or 48.6 million GEL more, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 49.3 percent. Compared with the previous month, in October the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 1.4 percent or 27.9 million GEL and reached 2.1 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 19.6 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 823.3 million GEL by November 1, 2011 (0.6 percent or 4.6 million GEL less compared to the previous month). 11.8 percent fall on construction, amounting to 498.4 million GEL (4.0 percent or 19.0 million GEL more, respectively). Therefore, 80.7 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 2.1 percent or 61.3 million GEL, during the October 2011, and exceeded 3.0 billion GEL by November 1, 2011.

Current statistical information is published on the statistics page of the NBG’s website: www.nbg.gov.ge.