The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) increased by 1402.8 million GEL (30.6 percent) compared to the beginning of the year and reached 6.0 billion GEL. More specifically, the volume of loans provided in the national currency grew by 16.0 percent and constituted 1.7 billion GEL, while the volume of loans in foreign currency grew by 37.3 percent and exceeded 4.3 billion GEL. 83.5 percent of the growth of overall volume of loans represent the growth of loans in foreign currency, which is to certain extent due to the revaluation of foreign currency denominated loans. Compared to the beginning of the year the currency makeup of loans has changed in favor of the foreign currencies: 27.9 percent of all loans are now denominated in GEL and 72.1 percent - in foreign currency (instead of 31.4 and 68.6 percent respectively).

The overdue loans constitute 3.5 percent of the total volume of lending. Compared to the beginning of the year this figure grew 2.8 times and amounted to 208.6 million GEL by December 1, 2008. 59.6 percent of total volume of overdue loans fall to the share of short-term loans.

As for the structure of loans in terms of borrower category, by the end of November 2008 commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 666.2 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (13.9 percent less than in the beginning of the year) and 2.6 billion GEL worth of loans in foreign currency (24.7 percent more than in the beginning of the year).

In the mentioned period the volume of lending has increased significantly in the spheres of Real Estate, Researches and Commercial Activity, where this indicator has increased 2.0 times and constituted 152.6 million GEL. The volume of lending increased 1.7 times in the sphere of Health Care and Social Services and equaled 38.1 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 4.7 and 1.2 percent.

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade - 47.4 percent. During the past 11 months the volume of loans provided for trade grew by 13.4 percent and exceeded 1.5 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 21.1 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 687.2 million GEL by December 1, 2008 (30.5 percent higher than in the beginning of the year). 11.3 percent fall on construction share, amounting to 367.8 million GEL (0.6 percent growth). Thus, 79.7 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, by 58.5 percent and reached 2.5 billion GEL by December 1, 2008.

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