Credit standards tightened further for all loan categories Demand for loans decreased strongly for both firms and households Banks more concerned about non-performing loans, set to tighten lending conditions Climate risks increasingly reflected in lending conditions According to the July 2023 euro area bank lending survey (BLS), credit standards – i.e. banks’ internal guidelines or loan approval criteria – for loans or credit lines to enterprises tightened further in the second quarter of 2023. The net percentage of banks reporting a tightening was smaller than in the previous quarter, standing at 14%, compared with ... (full story)