The Association of Lebanese Banks issued its monthly report on economic, financial and banking developments in April 2024, in which it showed, according to the latest available data, that public finances recorded a surplus of 611 billion pounds in December 2021 after a surplus of 168 billion pounds in the previous month ( A deficit of 45 billion liras in December 2020).
At the end of January 2023, the value of public debt denominated in Lebanese pounds reached 91,795 billion pounds, an increase of 0.7% compared to the end of December 2022, while private sector deposits in pounds with banks rose to 56,213 billion pounds at the end of April. April 2024, compared to 54,161 billion liras at the end of March 2024 and 52,050 billion liras at the end of December 2023.
The private sector’s deposits in foreign currencies at banks declined slightly to about $90.05 billion at the end of April 2024, compared to $90.10 billion at the end of March 2024 and $91.28 billion at the end of December 2023.
Loans to the private sector in pounds at banks also declined to 10,356 billion pounds at the end of April 2024, compared to 10,754 billion pounds at the end of March/December 2024, and 11,388 billion pounds at the end of December 2023, noting that they record a clear declining trend since the beginning of the crisis, with Some increases in these loans occur from time to time when demand increases to finance operational expenses or to pay dues in lira.