Feds Release the Senior Loan Survey

From the FRB:

Overall, in the January survey, domestic banks reported that their lending standards had changed little and that they had experienced somewhat stronger loan demand, on net, over the past three months. Foreign respondents, which mainly lend to businesses, reported a net tightening of their lending standards while loan demand was about unchanged.²

Regarding business loans, domestic banks reported, on balance, little change in standards on commercial and industrial (C&I) loans but a continued easing of pricing terms on such loans during the fourth quarter.  Domestic banks reportedly experienced stronger demand for C&I loans from firms of all sizes on net. The net fraction of banks reporting increased demand from small firms rose to its highest level since 2005.³ Foreign respondents reported having tightened both standards and terms on C&I loans, on net, and they indicated that loan demand had been about unchanged over the past three months. Domestic banks continued to report little change in their standards for CRE loans, but modest net fractions had eased some loan terms over the past year. Moderate net fractions of domestic banks reported that demand for CRE loans had strengthened in the fourth quarter. Modest net fractions of foreign respondents reported having tightened standards for CRE loans. Foreign respondents also reported, on balance, little change in demand for such loans.

On the household side, lending standards and demand for loans to purchase residential real estate were reportedly little changed over the fourth quarter on net. Standards on home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) were about unchanged, while demand for such loans weakened on balance. Moderate net fractions of banks reported that they had eased standards on all types of consumer loans over the past three months, and some banks also eased terms on auto loans.  Demand for credit card and auto loans reportedly had increased somewhat, while demand for other types of consumer loans was about unchanged.