The volume of loans to the private sector in the euro area expanded in November, with a bigger bounce recorded than the previous month, new European Central Bank data shows.
The statistics are a key indicator of economic health for the ECB, as borrowing is a main financing source for corporate investment which in turn should boost the euro zone's currently weak economy.
In November, approved loans rose 1.3% from a year ago, compared to a growth of 1% in October, an ECB statement said.
When certain strictly financial transactions are stripped out from the loans data, the trend remained the same - with credit accorded to households and companies up 1% in November, compared with 0.8% in October.
The ECB has launched a raft of policy measures to get credit flowing, most significantly a massive programme to buy more than €1 trillion worth of public sector bonds to pump liquidity into the system.
Earlier this month, ECB chief Mario Draghi said that programme would be extended by a further six months in a bid to drive euro zone inflation higher.
However, growth in overall money supply, known as M3, slowed slightly to 5.1% in November from 5.3% in October. The ECB regards M3 money supply as a barometer for future inflation.
