Among statistics released by the Bank of Italy stands out the sharp slowdown in the annual growth rate of loans to the private sector, down to 1,6% from 2,3% in December. Above all, the contraction in loans to non-financial companies weighed down, going from 2,6% in December, on a trend basis, to 1,3 recorded in January, while the decrease in the growth rate of loans to households decreased from 3,4% to 3,1%.
The interest rates for loans to companies, again in the month of January, they dropped to 4,06% against 4,18% in December, while bank rates on home loans soared, with the APR jumped from 4,27% to 4,55%. The average APR rate for consumer credit also increased, up to 9,91% from 9,11% in December.
