Romanian Jan Pvt Lending +67% YY At RON154.2B

On the month, private lending rose 4.1% in January in real terms, slower than the 4.3% monthly rise in December.

Private lending in euros rose 89% on the year in January, and 5.5% on the month in real terms, while local currency lending rose 35.8% on the year, and 1.5% on the month in January, the bank said.

In January, the central bank raised its main lending rate by 100 basis points to 9% on surging inflation which is expected to reach 8.3% at the end of March.

Romania’s annual inflation rate accelerated to a higher than expected 7.26% in January, its highest level since May 2006.