The annual growth rate of broad money (monetary aggregate M3) in Bulgaria was 4.3% in December 2009, compared to 6.4% in November 2009, data of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) show.

At the end of December M3 amounted to BGN 47.756 billion (72.9% of GDP) compared to BGN 46.761 billion (71.3% of GDP) in November 2009. Its most liquid component - the monetary aggregate M1 - decreased by 8.8% annually in December (7.8% decline in November). Quasi-money amounted to BGN 29.573 billion and rose by 14.5% compared to December 2008 (17.9% annual growth in November 2009).

Net Domestic Assets reached BGN 47.489 billion at the end of December 2009, which is a 6.1% increase compared to the same month of 2008 (13.9% annual growth in November 2009). The annual growth rate of their basic component - domestic credit - was 7% in December 2009 compared to 13.9% in November 2009. In December 2009 claims on the Non-government Sector amounted to BGN 51.585 billion and rose by 3.8% annually compared to 4% in November 2009.

At the end of December 2009, claims on loans to the Non-government Sector stood at BGN 50.972 billion (77.8% of GDP) compared to BGN 50.968 billion (77.8% of GDP) in November 2009. Their annual growth rate was 3.8% in December 2009 compared to 4.2% in November 2009. The change in claims on loans was influenced by net purchases of loans from Other MFIs5 - their volume for the last 12 months was BGN 1.523 billion. On an annual basis, loans sold by Other MFIs amounted to BGN 120 million (of which BGN 21.5 million in December 2009), while the amount of loans repurchased was BGN 1.643 billion (of which BGN 0.1 million in December 2009).

Loans to Non-financial Corporations increased by 2.3% annually in December 2009 (2% growth in November 2009) and at the end of the month amounted to BGN 30.929 billion (47.2% of GDP). Loans to Households and NPISHs (Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households) were BGN 19.139 billion (29.2% of GDP) at the end of December 2009, increasing annually by 5.8% (6.6% annual growth in November 2009).

In December 2009, loans for house purchase grew by 8.4% on an annual basis compared to 9.2% in November 2009. The annual growth rate of consumer loans was 6.9% in December 2009 and 7.5% in November 2009. Other loans decreased by 12.3% annually (11.8% decline in November).

The total amount of loans to Financial Corporations was BGN 905 million at the end of December 2009 and, compared to December 2008, it increased by 20.7% (41% annual growth in November 2009).

Net Foreign Assets amounted to BGN 14.711 billion at the end of December 2009 compared to BGN 14.448 billion in the previous month and increased by 5.5% on an annual basis compared to the 7.6% annual decline in November 2009. Foreign assets grew by 2.4% annually in December 2009 (they declined by 7.7% in November 2009), while foreign liabilities remained unchanged on an annual basis in December 2009 compared to the 7.8% annual decline in November 2009.