MANILA - Philippine bank lending fell for the first time in more than 14 years in December, reflecting weak consumer and business activity, with the trend expected to persist as coronavirus restrictions remain in place in many parts of the country.

Outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase placements, dropped by 0.7 percent in December from a year ago, despite a series of interest rate cuts by the central bank to boost lending.

The decline was the first since September, 2006, preliminary data from the central bank showed, and some economists expect lending to remain weak given subdued consumer and corporate demand.

• Bangko Sentral keeps rates steady as expected

Production loans, comprising 87.4 percent of the combined loan portfolio of universal and commercial banks, fell 0.4 percent in December from a year earlier, while consumer loans rose at a much slower pace of 4.4 percent compared with November's 7.1 percent.

Partial COVID-19 restrictions in the capital Manila were extended until the end of February to slow a spike in infections after year-end holidays, which could delay an economic recovery.

The Philippine economy contracted 9.5 percent in 2020, the biggest slump on record.

Speaking after the release of the GDP data, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday the Philippines, which was one of Asia's fastest growing economies before the pandemic, was in a "really bad shape".

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales
Editing by Ed Davies)

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv