Central Bank warning on costs of SME loans

The Central Bank has issued its rosiest outlooks on the economy since the end of crisis, but warned that the cost of credit for small and medium businesses is rising, rather than falling as seen elsewhere in Europe.

Criticised for failing to prevent the build-up of pressures that led to the banking and economic crash, the Central Bank has published in recent times a regular assessment of the risk factors facing the economy.

In its latest macro-financial review, the Central Bank yesterday predicted strong growth for the economy, as well as a lessening of the risks that once haunted government finances at the height of the crisis.