The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) in September, 2011, compared to the previous month, increased by 269.2 million GEL (3.8 percent) and exceeded 7.4 billion GEL by October 1, 2011. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 126.3 million GEL (6.0 percent), while the volume of loans in a foreign currency increased by 142.9 million GEL (2.8 percent).

By the end of September 2011, commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 791.8 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (7.1 percent or 52.7 million GEL more compared to the previous month) and 3.4 billion GEL worth of loans in a foreign currency (2.9 percent or 95.0 million GEL more, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 49.0 percent. Compared with the previous month, in September the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 1.8 percent or 36.6 million GEL and exceeded 2.0 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 19.8 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 827.9 million GEL by October 1, 2011 (5.2 percent or 40.6 million GEL more compared to the previous month). 11.5 percent fall on construction, amounting to 479.4 million GEL (3.7 percent or 17.3 million GEL more, respectively). Therefore, 80.4 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 4.2 percent or 120.1 million GEL, during the September 2011, and reached 3.0 billion GEL by October 1, 2011.

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