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[BUSINESS] · Albania · 7 sources

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Part of situation: Albanian lek appreciation and shifting economic trends (11 clusters)

Albania faces record cash circulation and shifting economic trends

Albanian economy cash circulation informal economy construction permits monetary policy

Albania is experiencing significant economic shifts, characterized by a record surge in cash circulation outside the banking system. In July, money held outside banks reached 522.5 billion lek (approximately 5.6 billion euro), a historic high. Experts suggest this is driven by a high level of informality and the Bank of Albania’s aggressive interventions to purchase euros to stabilize the lek, which has injected substantial liquidity into the market.

In the construction sector, local municipalities approved 782 new building permits in the first half of the year, a 28% increase compared to the previous year. While the total construction area has expanded to 684,000 square meters, the total value of these investments saw a slight decline of 6.2%, totaling 30.2 billion lek. There are indications that official statistics may underreport total construction activity, as data from the National Council of Territorial and Water Development (KKTU) for large-scale projects is not yet fully integrated into INSTAT reports.

Additionally, individual investment in government securities has declined for the third consecutive year. According to the Financial Supervisory Authority, purchases of bonds and obligations in the primary market fell by 16.5% to 23.8 billion lek, largely due to falling yields.

Entities

Albania · Bank of Albania · Financial Supervisory Authority · INSTAT · National Council of Territory and Water

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Cash circulating outside the banking system reached 522.5 billion lek in July, a historical record. www.bulevardnews.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The Bank of Albania has purchased nearly 2 billion euros over the last two years to prevent the euro from weakening against the lek. www.bulevardnews.com
  • [● 2 SOURCES] The total area planned for new construction in the second quarter is 307,127 square meters. 24-ore.com
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Official construction statistics currently only include data from municipalities and do not report data from the National Council of Territory and Water. 24-ore.com
  • [● 2 SOURCES] 460 new building permits were approved in the second quarter, a 30.7% increase compared to the same period in 2025. 24-ore.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Currency interventions have injected over 200 billion lek into the market during 2024-2025. www.bulevardnews.com

Sources

Banka e Shqipërisë përmbyt tregun me cash, paraja jashtë bankave arrin në 5. 6 miliardë euro [www.bulevardnews.com]
Ndërtimi merr hov në Shqipëri/ Bashkitë miratojnë 782 leje në 6 muaj, investimet arrijnë në 30. 2 miliardë lekë [fjala.al]
Banka e Shqipërisë përmbyt tregun me cash, paraja jashtë bankave arrin në 5. 6 miliardë euro [gazetaimpakt.com]
“Fshehja” e ndërtimit, sipërfaqja e lejeve në 6MI vlerësohet 4 herë më e madhe se statistika zyrtare [24-ore.com]
AIDA: Mbi 19 mijë kompani me kapital të huaj në Shqipëri [businessmag.al]
Mbi 522 miliardë lekë jashtë bankave, Shqipëria përballë një niveli rekord të parasë “cash”! Flasin ekspertët [javanews.al]
Rënia e yield-eve tkurri më tej investimet e reja në bono [monitor.al]