New business lending fell in July - the third consecutive month of negative data for the sector.According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics lending finance data, the value of new commercial finance commitments was down 2.7 per cent in July, compared with the previous month (in seasonally adjusted terms).The July result follows a fall of one per cent in June and a fall of 1.7 per cent in May.According to Reserve Bank data, lenders' business loan books grew by 4.8 over the 12 months to July - down from an annual growth rate of 5.2 per cent in May.There were promising signs for growth in business lending early in the year, after a number of years of low or no growth, but the recovery appears to be running out of steam.National Australia Bank's August business survey also showed demand for credit falling over the past three months.