Euro zone lending growth holds up even as survey points to weakness

FRANKFURT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Lending to euro zone firms continued to grow at a healthy pace in September, European Central Bank data showed on Tuesday, even as a key survey indicated tightening credit standards and no demand growth.

Lending to firms across the 21-nation euro zone expanded by 4.2% in September, unchanged on the previous month, while household lending was unchanged at 3.1%, equalling its best rate in over three years.

The M3 measure of money circulating in the euro zone, often an indicator of future activity, held steady at 3.5%, ahead of expectations for 3.4% in a Reuters poll of analysts.