Budget Deficit in the First Half of 2009
On the Public Finance Front, Lebanon’s fiscal deficit (budgetary & treasury) widened to $1.56 billion in the first half of 2009 from $1.32 billion in the same period last year.
Beirut Airport Activity through July 2009
The Beirut International Airport (BIA) prolonged its dynamic activity during the month of July 2009, posting a 28.84% annual increase in the number of passengers to 2,708,962, including transit travelers.
The Lebanese Banking Sector in June 2009
In the banking sector, the consolidated balance sheet of commercial banks in Lebanon reveals a 2.03% monthly expansion in total banking sector assets to LBP 156,207 billion ($103.62 billion) in June 2009.
Loans To The Private Sector in May 2009
According to the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL), total banking sector loans to the private sector rose by a sharp 11.57% y-o-y to LBP 33,335 billion ($22.11 billion) as at end of May 2009.
Payment Cards In the First Half of 2009
According to Banque Du Liban’s (BDL) statistics, the number of payment cards in Lebanon (debit and credit cards) rose by 8.28% to 1,626,415 cards in the first half of 2009.
Moody’s Outlook on Lebanon
Moody’s Investors Service, the international rating agency, reiterated in its latest rating update dated August 24, 2009 Lebanon’s Sovereign “government bond” rating at “B2” with “Stable” outlook.
Bahrain’s Inflation Rate in July 2009
According to government official data, Bahrain’s inflation rate rose to 2.9% in July 2009 in comparison with 2.7% in June.
Consumer Sentiment in August 2009
The University of Michigan consumer sentiment index fell by 0.45% in August 2009 to 65.7, down from 66.0 in July.
