Euro zone business credit growth slows but household lending rises

FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Bank lending to euro zone firms edged down last month but remained near two-year highs, while credit to households expanded at its best pace since early 2023, the European Central Bank said on Monday.

Credit growth to businesses eased to 2.9% in September from 3.0% a month earlier while loan growth to households rose to 2.6% from 2.5%, its highest rate since March 2023.

The M3 measure of money circulating in the euro zone, often an indicator of future activity, meanwhile expanded by 2.8%, a drop from 2.9% a month earlier but in line with expectations.

(Reporting by Balazs KoranyiEditing by Peter Graff)