The Central Bank of Peru reported that total credit to the private sector accelerated to 9.1 percent year on year in May from 8.6 percent in April, marking the fastest annual growth rate since March 2021. The stock of credit, which includes loans extended by banks, finance companies, municipal and rural savings institutions, and cooperatives, rose 1.6 percent from the previous month to PEN 454.6 billion. Growth strengthened in both household and business lending. Credit to individuals increased 8.9 percent year on year, up from 8.2 percent in April, mainly because of stronger consumer lending, while credit to companies rose 9.2 percent from 8.9 percent. On a monthly basis, household credit increased 1.1 percent and business credit 1.9 percent. By currency, local-currency credit growth rose to 7.8 percent from 7.4 percent, while foreign-currency credit growth increased to 13.9 percent from 13.2 percent. Monthly growth was 1.2 percent for local-currency credit and 3.0 percent for USD credit.