Bank Lending Survey (BLS)

The survey, started in January 2003, is conducted by the national central banks of the countries that have adopted the single currency, in collaboration with the European Central Bank, and is addressed to the senior loan officers responsible for credit policies of the main banks of the euro area (around 150). Thirteen credit groups are involved in Italy.

The survey makes it possible to highlight the factors influencing the supply of credit and the terms and conditions for clients on the one hand, and the evolution of credit demand with the relevant determinants on the other.

The survey is carried out using a questionnaire, periodically revised and updated (see the Methodological note for further details), with 22 multiple-choice questions and divided in two sections. The first section refers to loans granted to firms, the second to credit granted to households (for house purchase, consumer credit and other lending). The questionnaire also includes an "open" question, in which intermediaries may highlight cyclical aspects of the loans market that are not contemplated in the other questions. The senior loan officers are called upon to express their opinion on both developments in the last quarter and expectations for the next quarter. In the questionnaire ad hoc questions on specific topics of interest may be added occasionally.

An overview of the changes to the questionnaire is available in the file containing the results.

Sezione di approfondimento