ROME (ITALPRESS) – In the first half of 2024, demand for credit from businesses remained more or less stationary: while there was a slight growth in the North and the South, demand decreased in the Center. In the northern and southern regions, applications for loans aimed at debt restructuring and, to a lesser extent, those directed at supporting investment have increased most; applications aimed at financing working capital, on the other hand, have declined in all areas except the Northeast. This is the finding of the Regional Bank Lending Survey, conducted by the Bank of Italy’s Regional Branches on a sample of 240 banks and covering the first half of 2024.During the same period, policies for offering credit to businesses remained cautious in all areas of the country, particularly in the South; this was affected by intermediaries’ greater perception of risk on particular sectors, businesses or areas.In the first half of 2024, demand for loans for home purchases and those for consumption purposes returned to increase. Demand for mortgages grew slightly more in the Northwest and the South.Household mortgage supply policies remained largely unchanged in all areas of the country, although loan disbursement was accompanied by demands for more collateral. For consumer credit, supply conditions also remained more or less stationary.In the first part of 2024, against a backdrop of restrained yields offered by banks, household demand for deposits declined. In contrast, demand for government securities, stocks and mutual fund shares increased.
– Photo Agency Photogram –
(ITALPRESS).
