In March, new home transactions totalled €876 million, the highest amount since July 2010, and the average interest rate was 1.49%.

According to the central bank's statistical information, for consumer loans and credit for other purposes, the average interest rates

were, respectively, 7.13% (7.27% in March) and 3.71% (3.57% in March), with new transaction volumes totalling €370 million and €142 million, respectively.

In April, the average interest rate on new loans granted to non-financial corporations increased by 14 basis points from March to 2.55%.

According to the BdP, this increase "reflected the increase in interest rates, both in the segment of operations below €1 million (eight basis points to 2.88%) and in operations of more than €1 million (23 basis points to 2.09%)."

In April, the average interest rate on new up to 12-month deposits of non-financial corporations stood at 0.12%, up two basis points on the previous month.

For individuals, the average interest rate on new deposits for up to 12 months fell by one basis point to 0.16%.