Less incoming foreign currency

This conclusion is also reinforced by recent World Bank data, showing that the commercial balance of Albania started to deteriorate during 2011, after having to positive years, and reaching 12.2% of the GDP or 0.5% more than in 2010.

Although with an economic growth, Albania is still affected by the crisis and needs more foreign currency for securing the imported goods and the necessary services for consumption. This because the data show that the report of exports, from where the currency comes in, is in negative terms compared to import. The data show that the imports during 2011 were three times higher than exports, while the same report in 2010 was only 2.7%.

Meanwhile, the flux of foreign investments is giving shrinking signals. An indicator for this is the fall of foreign currency loans from banks that take funds from mother banks abroad.

The emigration income during 2011 was also the same as one year ago. Compared to the GDP it has fallen from 7.8% to 7.4%. Experts connect this fact with the deep crisis, especially in Greece and Italy, where most of the emigrants can be found.

Meanwhile, the revenues from tourism are almost zero for their effect in the economy, since the Albanians spend the same amount of money for holidays abroad. According to the Bank of Albania, the foreign travel expenses increased with 9% for 2011.

These indicators show a shrinking of the currency sources that feed the economy. The national currency, The Albanian Lek, was devaluated for the third year in a row and consumption has fallen so low that it is becoming a serious threat for the future economic growth.

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