The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) decreased by 75.3 million GEL (1.4 percent) compared to August 1, 2009 and amounted to 5.3 billion GEL by September 1, 2009. The volume of loans provided in the national currency decreased by 15.6 million GEL (1.3 percent) and constituted 1.2 billion GEL, while the volume of loans in foreign currency decreased by 59.7 million GEL (1.4 percent) and constituted 4.1 billion GEL.

By the end of August 2009 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 475.9 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (1.5 percent or 7.1 million less than in the previous month) and 2.4 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (3.5 percent or 86.9 million less than in the previous month).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 46.6 percent. Compared to the previous month the volume of loans provided for trade decreased by 0.9 percent and amounted to 1.3 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 20.4 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 589.7 million GEL by September 1, 2009 (5.4 percent less than in the previous month). 11.0 percent fall on construction, amounting to 318.6 million GEL (11.2 percent decrease compared to the previous month). Thus, 78.1 percent of the total volume of lending to legal entities falls only on three sectors – industry, construction and trade.

The volume of lending to individuals decreased by 1.2 percent, during the past month, and amounted to 2.1 billion GEL by September 1, 2009.

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