Eurozone Lending To Households Logs Weakest Growth Since 2015

Lending to the euro area households grew at the slowest pace since 2015 and broad money supply posted a marginal growth in January, data released by the European Central Bank showed on Tuesday. Adjusted loans to households registered an annual increase of 0.3 percent, which was slower than the 0.4 percent rise in December. This was the weakest growth since early 2015.

Likewise, annual growth in loans to non-financial corporations softened to 0.2 percent from 0.5 percent, data showed. Lending increased for the second straight month.

Loans to the overall private sector grew 0.4 percent but it was slightly slower than December's 0.5 percent gain.

Credit to euro area residents dropped 0.4 percent, following a 0.5 percent fall a month ago. Credit to the private sector logged a steady growth of 0.4 percent in January.

Data showed that the monetary aggregate M3 expanded 0.1 percent annually, weaker than the revised 0.2 percent rise in December.

The narrow measure M1, that comprises currency in circulation and overnight deposits, declined 8.6 percent from a year ago in January after easing 8.5 percent in December.

For the European Central Bank, today's data confirms that the worst impact of higher rates on bank lending and money growth seems to be over, said ING economist Bert Colijn.

This suggests that there is no immediate need to rush towards rate cuts, the economist noted. Colijn expects the ECB to hold rates in the coming two meetings, and sees the first cut in June.