The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) in July, 2011, compared to the previous month, increased by 104.3 million GEL (1.5 percent) and reached 7.0 billion GEL by August 1, 2011. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 77.9 million GEL (4.1 percent), while the volume of loans in a foreign currency increased by 26.4 million GEL (0.5 percent).

By the end of July 2011, commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 673.3 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (1.7 percent or 11.4 million GEL more compared to the previous month) and 3.3 billion GEL worth of loans in a foreign currency (0.1 percent or 2.6 million GEL less, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 51.2 percent. Compared with the June 2011, in July the volume of loans provided for trade decreased by 0.6 percent or 11.7 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 772.5 million GEL by August 1, 2011 (0.8 percent or 6.5 million GEL more compared to the previous month). 11.3 percent fall on construction, amounting to 448.1 million GEL (1.4 percent or 6.1 million GEL more, respectively). Therefore, 82.0 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 3.3 percent or 87.3 million GEL, during the July 2011, and exceeded 2.7 billion GEL by August 1, 2011.

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