Bank lending in the euro area has slowed

The growth in companies’ bank lending outside the financial sector slowed down in the euro area in December and retail lending stagnated, according to the monthly report of the European Central Bank (ECB) published on Friday.

According to the annual comparision, corporate lending grew by 2.9 percent, compared to the 3.1 percent rise in November. The retail lending of euro area banks stagnated on 2.8 percent in the last month of last year. Overall, the lending of the private sector increased by 2.8 percent, at a slower rate than the 2.9 percent of November. (MTI)