Today, the Reserve Bank released the results of 17th round of its quarterly bank lending survey (BLS)1, which captures qualitative assessment and expectations of major scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) on credit parameters (viz., loan demand, terms and conditions of loans) for major economic sectors2. The latest round of the survey collected senior loan officers’ assessment of credit parameters for Q2:2021-22 and expectations for Q3:2021-22. Owing to uncertainty driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional block was included in this survey round for assessing outlook for two quarters ahead as well as three quarters ahead. Highlights: A. Assessment for Q2:2021-22 -
Bankers assessed a rebound in loan demand during Q2:2021-22 after the second wave of pandemic abated (Chart 1 and Table 1). -
The terms and conditions of loans eased for all sectors during Q2:2021-22, reflecting a change from the restrain reported in previous round of the survey (Table 2). B. Expectations for Q3:2021-22 C. Expectations for Q4:2021-22 and Q1:2022-23 Table 1: Sector-wise Loan Demand - Net responses3 | (per cent) | Sectors | Assessment Period | Expectations Period | Q1:2021-22 | Q2:2021-22 | Q2:2021-22 | Q3:2021-22 | All Sectors | 3.6 | 42.9 | 41.1 | 51.8 | Agriculture | 15.5 | 37.9 | 34.5 | 36.2 | Mining and Quarrying Sector | -5.2 | 7.1 | 13.8 | 23.2 | Manufacturing | 10.7 | 41.1 | 39.3 | 42.9 | Infrastructure | 17.9 | 42.9 | 25.0 | 37.5 | Services | 5.4 | 42.9 | 39.3 | 48.2 | Retail/Personal | 5.8 | 44.0 | 44.2 | 58.0 | Table 2: Sector-wise Loan Terms and Conditions - Net responses | (per cent) | Sectors | Assessment Period | Expectations Period | Q1:2021-22 | Q2:2021-22 | Q2:2021-22 | Q3:2021-22 | All Sectors | -1.9 | 16.1 | 18.5 | 17.9 | Agriculture | 12.5 | 17.9 | 19.6 | 17.9 | Mining and Quarrying Sector | 0.0 | 10.7 | 10.7 | 12.5 | Manufacturing | 15.5 | 19.0 | 20.7 | 20.7 | Infrastructure | 5.4 | 12.5 | 16.1 | 14.3 | Services | 10.7 | 19.6 | 19.6 | 17.9 | Retail/Personal | 10.7 | 17.3 | 25.0 | 25.0 | Table 3: Sector-wise Expectations for extended period - Net responses | (per cent) | Sectors | Loan Demand | Loan Terms and Conditions | Q4:2021-22 | Q1:2022-23 | Q4:2021-22 | Q1:2022-23 | All Sectors | 57.1 | 53.6 | 20.7 | 20.7 | Agriculture | 50.0 | 36.2 | 27.6 | 24.1 | Mining and Quarrying Sector | 25.9 | 27.6 | 10.3 | 10.3 | Manufacturing | 51.7 | 48.3 | 18.3 | 16.7 | Infrastructure | 45.0 | 43.3 | 15.0 | 18.3 | Services | 55.0 | 53.3 | 23.3 | 23.3 | Retail/Personal | 53.3 | 50.0 | 23.3 | 26.7 | Note: Please see the excel file for time series data. |