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Frankfurt - The rate of growth in eurozone bank loans to the private sector rose again in February, the European Central Bank (ECB) said on Friday, signalling support for eurozone growth.
Lending expanded by 2.6% from the same month a year earlier, up from 2.4% in January, an ECB spokesperson said, continuing an upward trend that had been interrupted in December.
The central bank also said that eurozone money supply as measured by its M3 indicator grew by 2.0% in February, a rate that was higher than the previous month's 1.5% increase.
The ECB regards this figure as a key guide to pressures likely to affect inflation in the medium term.
Lending and money supply data are widely-followed indicators of consumer demand and overall economic activity.
Rising figures point to increased demand, which normally means inflation could also begin to pick up and incite the ECB to raise interest rates.
The ECB has kept its key interest rate at a historic low of 1% since May 2009, but financial markets expect it to rise to 1.25% in April.
Lending expanded by 2.6% from the same month a year earlier, up from 2.4% in January, an ECB spokesperson said, continuing an upward trend that had been interrupted in December.
The central bank also said that eurozone money supply as measured by its M3 indicator grew by 2.0% in February, a rate that was higher than the previous month's 1.5% increase.
The ECB regards this figure as a key guide to pressures likely to affect inflation in the medium term.
Lending and money supply data are widely-followed indicators of consumer demand and overall economic activity.
Rising figures point to increased demand, which normally means inflation could also begin to pick up and incite the ECB to raise interest rates.
The ECB has kept its key interest rate at a historic low of 1% since May 2009, but financial markets expect it to rise to 1.25% in April.
