According to data published on Thursday by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT), total outstanding credit to the economy continued to grow at a still moderate pace in 2024.
It increased by only 3.2% (year-on-year) in May 2024, after rising by 3.5% in the previous month, compared with 5.5% in May 2023.
Outstanding loans to individuals increased by 1.9% (year-on-year) in May 2024, compared with 1.5% in the previous month.
Specifically, outstanding loans for house purchase increased by 2.6%, compared with 1.8% in April 2024, while the growth rate of outstanding loans to consumers stabilized at 1.2% for the second consecutive month.
Meanwhile, the growth rate of loans to enterprises was 3.6% in May 2024, from 4.2% in the previous month.
Specifically, there was a slowdown in loans to industry (1.9% compared with 2.1%) and, to a lesser extent, to services (4.3% in absolute terms compared with 5.3%).
On the other hand, loans to the agricultural sector continued to grow at a sustained pace in May 2024 (8.4%, yoy, from 9.2% in April 2024).
