The Central Bank of the Philippines published preliminary data showing outstanding loans from universal and commercial banks to businesses and consumers grew 10.5% year on year in September, easing from 11.2% in August. On a seasonally adjusted basis, outstanding loans rose 0.3% month on month. Outstanding loans to residents increased 10.9% year on year (from 11.6%), while loans to non-residents fell 2.9% (from a 5.9% decline). Credit for business activities expanded 9.1% (from 9.9%), with lending rising in real estate activities (9.2%), electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply (27.1%), wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (9.1%), financial and insurance activities (8.8%), information and communication (8.6%), and transportation and storage (15.4%). Consumer loans to residents, including credit card, motor vehicle and general-purpose salary loans, grew 23.5% (from 23.9%); the loan series excludes universal and commercial banks’ reverse repurchase agreements with the central bank, and non-resident loans include foreign currency deposit units’ lending.