We collect data from small businesses on how they obtain financing -- or in some cases fail to obtain financing -- using the National Survey of Small Business Finance and the Survey of Consumer Finances. We also gather information directly on the small business credit extended by individual commercial banks.
Therefore, the rapid decrease in loans extended to emerging and commodity-exporting economies by U.S. and Western European financial institutions led to a significant credit contraction and a sharp deterioration in economic conditions also in these economies.