Private sector loans growing in eurozone: ECB

The volume of loans to the private sector in the euro area expanded in November, with a bigger bounce recorded than the previous month, European Central Bank data showed on Wednesday.

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 eurozone's currently weak economy. In November, approved loans rose 1.3 percent from a year ago, compared to a growth of 1.0 percent 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 1.0 percent in November, compared with 0.8 percent in October.