Romania to slow credit rise

Romania’s central bank will approve a package of measures to temper lending expansion by July 10, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said.

Isarescu, quoted by the daily paper Adevarul on Saturday, said he did not envisage decreasing the amount of credit available.

"We’re just trying to temper its rise, especially regarding the hard currency loans," he said.

One of the proposals would limit an individual’s overall debt service to 40 per cent of revenues.

Romania promised the International Monetary Fund it would quell a fast expansion of consumer lending spurred by growing domestic demand, which has put pressure on the current account deficit.

The IMF had said that Romania’s economic growth remained solid but a possible rapid rise in domestic demand could fuel inflation and put pressure on the current account.

Inflation stayed in double digits in May, rising to 10 per cent year-on-year after a similar increase in April.

Hard currency loans rose by 63.6 per cent year-on-year at the end of May while leu credits rose by 29.4 per cent.