In the April 2024 bank lending survey (BLS), euro area banks reported a small further tightening of their credit standards for loans or credit lines to enterprises in the first quarter of 2024 (net percentage of banks of 3%; see Overview table). This was less than banks had expected in the previous round (9%). The net tightening figure reflected tightening in Germany and a few smaller countries, while all other jurisdictions reported net unchanged credit standards. The substantial cumulative tightening since 2022 has contributed, together with a prolonged weakening in loan demand (see below), to the strong fall in ... (full story)