The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) increased by 4.3 percent compared to the previous month and constituted 6.0 billion GEL by December 1, 2010. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 15.2 million GEL (1.0 percent), while the volume of loans in foreign currency increased by 234.3 million GEL (5.6 percent).

By the end of November 2010 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 649.0 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (2.9 percent or 19.1 million GEL less compared to previous month) and 2.8 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (6.8 percent or 177.8 million GEL more, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 52.8 percent. Compared with the previous month the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 9.3 percent or 154.2 million GEL and exceeded 1.8 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 19.2 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 660.0 million GEL by December 1, 2010 (1.4 percent or 9.4 million GEL increased compared to the previous month). 11.0 percent fall on construction, amounting to 378.5 million GEL (2.6 percent or 9.6 million GEL increased, respectively). Thus, 83.0 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 1.6 percent or 34.8 million GEL, during the past month, and reached 2.3 billion GEL level by December 1, 2010.