Publication of the results of the Bank lending survey for the euro area

The European Central Bank (ECB) is today publishing for the first time a report on the results of the bank lending survey for the euro area.

As explained in the press release entitled "Bank lending survey for the euro area" of 21 November 2002 and the article entitled "A bank lending survey for the euro area" in the April 2003 issue of the ECB's Monthly Bulletin, the bank lending survey has been developed by the Eurosystem in order to enhance the understanding of bank lending behaviour in the euro area.

It is intended to conduct the survey four times a year, at the beginning of each quarter. The first survey was carried out in January 2003, followed by a second in April 2003. The report presents the main results of these two surveys.

The report is available on the ECB's website at http://www.ecb.europa.eu.