US Bank Lending Slumps by Most on Record in Final Weeks of March
- Loans by commercial banks declined by nearly $105 billion
- Deposits at US banks decreased for a 10th-straight week
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US bank lending contracted by the most on record in the last two weeks of March, indicating a tightening of credit conditions in the wake of several high-profile bank collapses that risks damaging the economy.
Commercial bank lending dropped nearly $105 billion in the two weeks ended March 29, the most in Federal Reserve data back to 1973. The more than $45 billion decrease in the latest week was primarily due to a a drop in loans by small banks.