Commercial finance proved to be a strong growth market for lenders in 2015 and a lead indicator, the Veda Business Credit Demand Index, suggests it will continue to grow in the current year.According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics lending finance data, new commercial finance commitments rose 1.1 per cent in November, compared with the previous month (in seasonally adjusted terms).New business finance was worth A$45.9 billion in November - 23 per cent higher than in November 2014. The total was made up of $33.7 billion of fixed loans and $12.2 billion of revolving credit. Both types of business finance grew strongly over the course of the year.Veda's latest Business Credit Demand Index indicates that the growth trend is likely to continue. Applications for business loans, trade credit and asset finance rose by three per cent in the December quarter, compared with the December quarter in 2014.Veda's index has risen for six consecutive quarters. Business loan applications were up 4.1 per cent, trade credit applications fell 2.6 per cent and asset financial applications grew 8.7 per cent.