The euro area Bank Lending Survey (BLS) is conducted by the Eurosystem four times a year on a sample of euro area banks in order to obtain qualitative information on the supply of and demand for loans to enterprises and households. The BLS results provide input to the assessment of the role of bank lending in monetary policy transmission.

The survey contains a set of standard questions on past and expected credit market developments; in addition, it may contain ad hoc questions on specific topics of interest.

The BLS results are published in January, April, July and October.

Banco de Portugal publishes the survey results for Portugal and aggregate results for the euro area are available on the European Central Bank's website.

Any further information can be obtained through email: info@bportugal.pt

Associated Documents

BLS glossary (pdf)

Complete series - since January 2003 (xls)