"A slew of new data suggests the credit crisis is deepening as lenders grow increasingly distrustful of their own customers and each other....
The most worrying aspect of the crisis is a growing reluctance among financial institutions to offer basic loans that are the lifeblood of the economic system. The Federal Reserve said Thursday the situation had worsened over the past week. Its data showed lenders reduced short-term loans to companies by a record $94.9 billion, bringing the total decline to $208 billion over the past four weeks."
