Abstract:

The article presents the developments in reported demand for credit and credit standards from Norges Bank's Survey of Bank Lending from 2008 until 2016. Norwegian banks have reported substantial tightening of credit standards in this period. Norges Bank's Survey of Bank Lending provides insights into the reasons for this tightening and the manner in which banks have changed their loan conditions. There was a considerable tightening of credit standards for enterprises during the financial crisis, while the tightening of credit standards for households has been more gradual and largely as a response to new requirements and regulations from the authorities. We find that tighter loan conditions for households have affected credit growth in this sector.