Hi °C | Lo °C IT became easier for consumers to access credit during the fourth quarter of last year, but business lending is as tight as ever, say the Central Bank.
The Bank’s latest lending survey found that credit standards eased and loan demand increased in respect of lending to households for house purchases, while standards eased and loan demand was unchanged in respect of consumer credit and other lending to households.
Unlike the consumer market though, the Central Bank found that it was just as hard as ever for businesses to access credit while demand from the sector was unchanged.
The bank said new capital requirements being brought in by the EU Commission, known as “CRD IV”, may lead to tighter lending conditions to small and medium enterprises during the first half of 2013.
