The total value of outstanding non-government loans extended by Macedonian banks and saving houses increased by 8.4% y/y to MKD 243.9bn (EUR 3.97bn) at end-July 2014, marginally slowing down from an 8.5% y/y growth at end-June, central bank data showed. The total loan stock is equal to 49% of the projected 2014 GDP, up from 48.9% at end-June.

Loans to non-financial corporations (public and private) rose 6.0% y/y to MKD 140.2bn at the end of last month, slowing from a 6.1% y/y rise at end-June. Loans to households increased 11.8% y/y to MKD 102.6bn with the annual growth rate unchanged from end-June.

The other components of the total loan stock include credit to financial corporations (down 5.6% y/y to MKD 223mn at end-July), loans to non-profit institutions serving households (down 6.9% y/y to MKD 127mn) and credit to local governments (up 39% y/y to MKD 795mn).

The currency breakdown of the total loan stock showed slower annual growth of the local currency portion, but also a smaller y/y decrease in the foreign currency component. Local currency loans rose 11.3% y/y to MKD 188.9bn at end-July, decelerating from an 11.8% y/y increase a month earlier. Foreign currency loans edged down 0.3% y/y to MKD 55bn at the end of last month, after shrinking 1.4% y/y at end-June.