By September 1, 2008, the volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) decreased by 175.6 million GEL compared to August 1, 2008 and amounted to 5.6 billion GEL. Although, compared to the same period of 2007 the volume of lending by commercial banks grew by 1.6 billion GEL (39.5 percent). More specifically, the volume of loans provided in the national currency grew 1.8 times and constituted 1.9 billion GEL, while the volume of loans in foreign currency grew by 25.1 percent and reached 3.7 billion GEL. At the same time, the currency makeup of loans has changed significantly: 33.7 percent are now denominated in GEL and 66.3 percent - in foreign currency (instead of 26.1 and 73.9 percent last year, respectively).

The overdue loans constitute 2.0 percent of the total volume of lending. At the same time, compared to the same period of 2007 its volume grew 2.3 times and amounted to 112.4 million GEL by September 1, 2008. 54.0 percent of total volume of overdue loans fall to the share of short-term loans.

During the last year the volume of long-term loans has been increasing at a higher rate than the volume of short-term loans (44.8 percent as compared to 23.0 percent), and constituted 70.4 percent of the total volume of lending instead of 67.8 percent at the end of August of the last year.

As for the structure of loans in terms of borrower category, by the end of August 2008 commercial banks issued to legal entities 842.0 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (42.2 percent more than during the same period last year) and 2.2 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (6.7 percent more than during the same period last year).

During the last year the volume of lending has increased significantly in the spheres of Real Estate, Researches and Commercial Activity, where this indicator has increased almost 3.0 times and constituted 129.2 million GEL. The volume of lending has increased 2.3 fold in the sphere of Health Care and Social Services and equaled 29.2 million GEL. This rapid growth notwithstanding, the share of these sectors in the total amount of lending is insignificant and remains at the level of 4.3 and 1.0 percent.

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade - 45.7 percent. During the last year the volume of loans provided for trade grew by 7.9 percent and reached 1.4 billion GEL.

After trade, the second biggest share of loans falls on those provided to the industrial sector - 20.9 percent or 633.1 million GEL, by September 1, 2008 (28.6 percent higher than the comparable figure a year before). Construction is next, with a 13.6 percent share (410.5 million GEL and 36.0 year-on-year growth). Thus, 80.2 percent of the total volume of lending to legal entities falls only on three sectors - industry, construction and trade.

The volume of lending of individuals has grown significantly during the reporting period (1.9 times) and reached 2.3 billion GEL by September 1, 2008, which is the evidence of individual entrepreneurship stirring up.

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