The average interest rate for individuals' deposits shed half apercentage point in the first two months of 2011 and reached 7,1%per annum in late February.
In parallel, inflation climbed to 7.6%, so that depositors cameto realise interest rates from banks no longer keep up with priceincreases.
Inflation slightly climbed above the average deposit interestrate of the summer of 2010 in the wake of the VAT hike, but the gapwidened in February, when foodstuff prices soared and droveinflation up by 0.6%.
The real interest rate (the gap between inflation and displayedinterests) should re-enter positive territory as the impact ofincreased fiscality wanes, analysts say.
Despite the falling interests, individual clients have savedfurther over the past year and in late February heldlei-denominated deposits worth almost 66bn lei (16bn euros), up 7%from a year ago.
Analysts expect individuals' deposits with banks to rise furtherin the following months, on a feeling of caution among consumersand on the rising disposable income.
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