Investment in the stock market has bounced back in the past few years, but bricks and mortar are still the most popular investment for most Italians. This is confirmed by the rise in mortgage lending, with the annual figure reported in December 2004 up on average 20 per cent throughout Italy compared to December 2003, according to a report from Banca dItalia. In Sardinia and Campania it rose by over 30 per cent, but was up just 11 per cent in Liguria. Of the 195 billion lent by Italian banks, more than 154 billion was borrowed for the purchase of homes. Loans for self-construction projects for people who buy and build brick by brick rose by over 10 per cent throughout Italy.