More than 41.8 billion euro of credits were granted over the last three months of the year, what represents an increase of 3.8 % with regard to the same period of the previous year. . This is due to a collapse of the increase of the rates at the end of last year. In the fourth quarter, the average rates were 4.62 %, against 4.40 % in the third quarter during which they had strongly increased. In January, 2008, they had again very slightly progressed to 4.66 %.

As for the volume of the loans, it increased by 2.7 % in 2007. The last year also, the term of the loans stretched out of eight months, bringing the average term of the real-estate loans to 225 months. Finally, the report notes that, under the influence of the loans at zero rate, the part of the households with low incomes is in increase.