THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last weekend said that lending and money circulating in the economy both increased in April.
Preliminary data showed that outstanding loans from universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) grew 11.4 percent, up from March’s 10.7 percent and the highest since July 2025’s 11.8 percent.
Domestic liquidity was slightly higher by 12.2 percent at P20.3 trillion from 12.1 percent a month earlier.
Month on month, outstanding U/KB loans climbed 1.1 percent, while liquidity inched by 0.7 percent.
Outstanding loans to residents were up 11.8 percent from 11.1 percent in March, while loans for business activities expanded by 10.7 percent.
In particular, lending increased in real estate activities (8.1 percent); electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply (25.8 percent); wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (11.8 percent); manufacturing (1.0 percent); and financial and insurance activities (6.7 percent).
On the other hand, consumer loans posted slower growth at 19.6 percent from 20.5 percent due to the “moderation in credit card and motor vehicle loans.” As for liquidity, domestic claims rose by 11.5 percent in March from February’s 11.1 percent. Private sector claims alone grew by 12.6 percent in April from 11.9 percent a month earlier.
Net claims on the central government went up by 15.1 from 12.1 percent a month ago, driven by “higher outstanding government securities (GS) and lower deposits with the BSP and banks.” Net foreign assets (NFAs) in peso terms added up by 8.9 percent from 8.6 percent in March. BSP NFAs increased by 7.9 percent, while those of banks grew “on account of larger holdings of foreign currency-denominated debt securities.” The BSP said it would “continue to ensure that domestic liquidity conditions remain consistent with its price and financial stability objectives.”
