Bank Lending Rises in the U.S.

Big U.S. banks are gearing up for big loans to businesses, a change in course for the market where money has been hard to come by since the recession. After two years of steady declines, the amount of money loaned by commercial and industrial banks increased in the past two months. According to one estimate, loans increased to $1.22 trillion in the fourth quarter of this year. Analysts expect that number to be much higher next year. The jump is a sanguine sign for businesses, an important indicator that the recovery could be self-sustaining. Big U.S. banks are gearing up for big loans to businesses, a change in course for the market where money has been hard to come by since the recession. After two years of steady declines, the amount of money loaned by commercial and industrial banks increased in the past two months.