
Household bank debt reached a historic high of 456.3 billion dirhams in 2025, marking a 6.9% increase, according to Bank Al-Maghrib's annual report on banking supervision. This figure represents nearly 33% of credit institution financing and 27% of the Gross Domestic Product. Banks hold 78% of this debt, with financing companies holding 22%, a 3-point increase for the latter compared to 2024. Consumer credit's share of this debt rose by 2 points to 40%, while housing credit's share decreased to 60%. The 21st survey by Bank Al-Maghrib, conducted with 10 conventional banks, 4 participatory banks, one participatory window, and 11 consumer credit companies, covers 95% of housing financing and 99% of consumer financing. Housing credit production grew by 10.8% in 2025, reaching 31.8 billion dirhams, with the outstanding gross amount at 272.9 billion dirhams +3%. This growth was driven by a 12.9% increase in free loans, while state-supported loans decreased by 3.3%. The number of beneficiaries rose by 4.5% to 63,252 clients. The average loan amount increased by 28,000 dirhams to 502,000 dirhams, and the average interest rate was 4.68%, a 9 basis point decrease. Individuals over 40 years old accounted for nearly 62% of housing loan applications, and those with incomes below 6,000 dirhams represented 44% of applications. Casablanca-Settat and Rabat-Sal茅-K茅nitra regions accounted for 38% and 20% of beneficiaries, respectively. Consumer credit's outstanding gross amount reached nearly 1
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Must ReadThe United States has imposed new tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on certain products from approximately 60 countries, effective Friday at 00:01 04:01 GMT. Goods already en route to the US will be exempt if they arrive before July 28, 00:01. China, among the countries facing a 12.5% tariff, has expressed opposition to these new taxes and any "trade war." The European Union, subject to a 10% tariff, welcomed the outcome as consistent with US commitments in last year's trade agreement between Brussels and Washington, according to the European Commission. Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Norway have criticized these new customs barriers. These surtaxes replace temporary 10% tariffs imposed in February by the Trump administration after the Supreme Court annulled most surtaxes decreed since its return to the White House. The new measures stem from an investigation launched in mid-March by US Trade Representative USTR Jamieson Greer to determine if US trading partners had eliminated products from forced labor from their supply chains. Greer stated on CNN that the goal is to end trade in such products, ensuring fair competition. Countries with legislation deemed incomplete by the US, including the EU, UK, Mexico, and Canada, face a 10% tariff on some products. Approximately 40 other countries, such as China, Japan, Switzerland, and South Korea, will see their products taxed at 12.5%. Energy and raw materials not produced in the US are expected to be excluded. International trade lawyer Gr
Must ReadFrance has requested the activation of the European Union's civil protection mechanism to combat wildfires devastating its southwestern and southeastern regions. President Emmanuel Macron announced that Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia will provide two Canadair aircraft, two Air Tractor aircraft, and two Black Hawk heavy helicopters. The situation remains tense, particularly in Gironde, where a fire in the Landes de Gascogne forest has burned 4,800 hectares and led to over 20,000 evacuations near Arcachon. This area was also affected by severe fires in 2022. The European Commission had previously deployed three water-bombing planes. In the Var department in southeastern France, firefighters are battling active fires in Correns and Montfort-sur-Argens, with a fire that started on Tuesday having covered approximately 2,700 hectares and impacted around 50 homes, destroying 25. Meanwhile, Spain has declared a national state of emergency in the Madrid region and neighboring Avila province due to multiple active wildfires, leading to the evacuation of over 10,000 people. Since January 1, nearly 125,000 hectares have burned in Spain. Southern Italy, particularly Sicily, is also experiencing numerous wildfires exacerbated by hot winds. The dry vegetation and soil, intensified by recent heatwaves, contribute to the rapid spread of these fires. Climate scientists from the World Weather Attribution group indicate that human-induced climate change is worsening the curr

The 9th edition of the Morocco Today Forum MTF 2026 is taking place live from Errachidia, organized by Groupe Le Matin under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The event brings together decision-makers, experts, elected officials, researchers, economic actors, and civil society representatives to discuss territorial development, advanced regionalization, regional attractiveness, and the role of digital technology in achieving a more integrated and inclusive emergence for Morocco. The forum aims to make territorial development a driver of national emergence, social cohesion, and spatial justice.