The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) decreased by 1.2 percent compared to the previous month and constituted 5.8 billion GEL by November 1, 2010. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 0.9 million GEL (0.1 percent), while the volume of loans in foreign currency decreased by 69.0 million GEL (1.6 percent). The fall of loans provided in the foreign currency is attributed to the national currency appreciation.

By the end of October 2010 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 668.1 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (2.7 percent or 18.2 million GEL less compared to previous month) and 2.6 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (1.5 percent or 38.7 million GEL less, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 50.7 percent. Compared with the previous month the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 1.0 percent or 16.6 million GEL and reached 1.7 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 19.8 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 650.6 million GEL by November 1, 2010 (8.3 percent or 59.0 million GEL decreased compared to the previous month). 11.2 percent fall on construction, amounting to 368.9 million GEL (0.7 percent or 2.5 million GEL decreased, respectively). Thus, 81.8 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 decreased by 0.7 percent or 14.6 million GEL, during the past month, and remained at 2.2 billion GEL level by November 1, 2010.

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