The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) decreased by 0.4 percent compared to the previous month and constituted 5.8 billion GEL by October 1, 2010. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 24.8 million GEL (1.6 percent), while the volume of loans in foreign currency decreased by 46.3 million GEL (1.1 percent). The fall of loans provided in the foreign currency is attributed to the national currency appreciation.

By the end of September 2010 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 686.3 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (0.7 percent or 5.0 million GEL more compared to previous month) and 2.7 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (0.7 percent or 18.6 million GEL less, 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 the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 1.2 percent or 18.9 million GEL and exceeded 1.6 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 21.3 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 709.6 million GEL by October 1, 2010 (0.2 percent or 1.3 million GEL decreased compared to the previous month). 11.1 percent fall on construction, amounting to 371.4 million GEL (0.2 percent or 0.8 million GEL decreased, respectively). Thus, 81.7 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 0.6 percent or 14.1 million GEL, during the past month, and exceeded 2.2 billion GEL by October 1, 2010.

Current statistical information is published on the statistics page of the NBG’s website.