The credit environment for business may be improving in Australia, according to the November commercial credit index from banking researchers East & Partners.

Statistics show that just over 40 percent of mid-sized businesses surveyed intend to increase the size of their lending, up from 38 percent in October. Those businesses are intending to increase the size of the loan facility by almost one quarter of its current size in November.

The result is drawn from a survey of 257 businesses across Australia that have an annual turnover of between 20 million and 100 million Australian dollars.

East & Partners' head of market analysis Robert Morgan said: " This latest index result for November continues the trend we have been seeing that there is renewed enthusiasm for business credit amongst Australian mid-corporates."

Business lending was badly struck by the global financial crisis, with banks reducing their activities and suffering sizable bad or doubtful debts to business clients.