André Deak
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - The total value of loans made in Brazil in January was US$ 283.406 billion (R$ 608.87 billion). This amount is equivalent to 31% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the sum of wealth produced in the country. According to the figures announced yesterday (22) by the Central Bank (BC), credit was up 20% between January, 2004, and January, 2005.

Despite this growth, when it comes to credit granted by the country's financial system, "Brazil lends very little in comparison with other countries," in the assessment of Erivaldo Rodrigues, president of the Austin Ratin economic analysis firm.

"Ours is one of the worst proportions in the world. In China and the United States the percentage is 120%. In Chile, which is a small economy, but one that grows more than ours, it is 65%. In Bolivia, which has an economy far inferior to ours, the percentage is 55%," he affirmed.

Translation: David Silberstein