Bank lending slows down in August

Outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase (RRP) placements with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), grew at a slower rate of 10.5 percent in August from 11.1 percent in July.

On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, commercial bank loans net of RRPs grew by 0.7 percent.

Loans for production activities—which comprised 87.4 percent of banks’ aggregate loan portfolio, net of RRPs—expanded at a slower pace of 9.0 percent in August from 9.8 percent in the previous month.

The growth in production loans was driven primarily by lending to the following sectors: real estate activities (17.7 percent); financial and insurance activities (16.3 percent); electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (11.2 percent), construction (39.2 percent); and wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycle (3.7 percent).

Bank lending to other sectors also increased during the month, except those in professional, scientific and technical activities (-38.9 percent) and other community, social and personal activities (-35.9 percent).

Meanwhile, loans for household consumption grew by 25.4 percent in August from 23.0 percent in July, due to faster growth in motor vehicle, credit card, and salary-based general purpose consumption loans during the month.

Going forward, the BSP will continue to ensure that the expansion in domestic credit and liquidity remains consistent with the BSP’s price and financial stability objectives. (BSP)