The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $1 trillion equipment finance sector, showed their overall new business volume for June was $9.9 billion, up 9 percent year-over-year from new business volume in June 2018. Volume was up 9 percent month-to-month from $9.1 billion in May. Year to date, cumulative new business volume was up 1 percent compared to 2018.
Receivables over 30 days were 1.70 percent, unchanged from the previous month and up from 1.40 percent the same period in 2018. Charge-offs were 0.33 percent, down from 0.46 percent the previous month, and unchanged from the year-earlier period.
Credit approvals totaled 77.0 percent, up from 75.9 percent in May. Total headcount for equipment finance companies was down 2.2 percent year-over-year.
Separately, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) in July is 57.9, up from the June index of 52.8.
ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta said, “After a sluggish beginning to the year, Q2 new business volume in the equipment finance sector, as measured by responding organizations to the MLFI-25, shows a healthy gain. As we head into the summer months, the economy and credit markets continue to perform well. Demand for financed equipment is strong.”
Deborah Baker, Head of Worldwide Leasing & Financing, HP, Inc., said, “The MLFI-25 positive year-over-year growth is a key market indicator. The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation Q3 2019 Industry Snapshot data show similar optimism. Despite the headwinds associated with continued trade tensions, the U.S. economy realized an improved annualized growth rate of 3.1 percent in Q1 aided by tailwinds associated with strength in the oil sector and more temperate Federal Reserve actions on interest rates. Such results increase confidence in potential full year results.”
About the ELFA’s MLFI-25
The MLFI-25 is the only index that reflects capex—the volume of commercial equipment financed in the U.S.—and is released as a complementary economic indicator the day before the U.S. Department of Commerce releases the durable goods report.
To read a detailed description and methodology of the MLFI-25, visit http://www.elfaonline.org/Data/MLFI/.
About ELFA
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) is the trade association that represents companies in the $1 trillion equipment finance sector, which includes financial services companies and manufacturers engaged in financing capital goods. ELFA members are the driving force behind the growth in the commercial equipment finance market and contribute to capital formation in the U.S. and abroad. Its 575 members include independent and captive leasing and finance companies, banks, financial services corporations, broker/packagers and investment banks, as well as manufacturers and service providers. For more information, please visit www.elfaonline.org.
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