a symphony of light illuminates the south facade of the european central bank ecb headquarters in frankfurt germany december 30 2021 reuterswolfgang rattayfile photo june 29 reuters  bank lending to euro zone companies continued to surge in may european central bank data showed on wednesday suggesting that firms may be stocking up on funding before the ecbs interest rates rise later this year loans to companies increased by 58 last month picking up from 52 a month earlier to record the fastest growth rate since early 2021 the pace of growth in credit to households meanwhile held steady at 46 the highest level since late 2008 growth in the m3 measure of money circulating in the euro zone meanwhile slowed to 56 the slowest pace in two years  that is before the ecb boosted its bond purchases to respond to the coronavirus pandemic