Romanian Feb Pvt Lending +65.8% YY At RON158.3B

On the month, private lending rose 2.7% in February in real terms, slower than the 4.1% monthly rise in January.

Private lending in foreign currencies rose 89.9% on the year in February, and 2.4% on the month in real terms, while local currency lending rose 44.4% on the year, and 3% on the month in February, the bank said.

On Wednesday, the central bank raised its main lending rate by 50 basis points to 9.5% on surging inflation which is expected to reach 8.3% at the end of March.

Romania’s annual inflation rate accelerated to about 8% in February, its highest level since March 2006.