Equipment Finance Industry New Business Volume Sees Small Uptick

Monthly Leasing and Finance Index shows new business volume up 2% in January -- picking up where it left off in 2013

Members of the equipment leasing and finance industry see the positive increase in new business volume and confidence as a sign of continued health and stability in the industry.
Members of the equipment leasing and finance industry see the positive increase in new business volume and confidence as a sign of continued health and stability in the industry.
Equipment Leasing Foundation L 10950309

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25) showed overall new business volume for January was $6 billion, up 2 percent from new business volume in January 2013. Volume was down 44 percent from December, following the typical end-of-quarter, end-of-year spike in new business activity. 

Receivables over 30 days were at 1.8 percent in January, down slightly from 1.9 percent in December. Delinquencies were unchanged from the same period in 2013.  Charge-offs were unchanged from the previous two months at the all-time low of 0.3 percent.

Credit approvals totaled 76.9 percent in January, a decrease from 78.3 percent the previous month. Fifty-four percent of participating organizations reported submitting more transactions for approval during January, a decrease from 57 percent December.

Finally, total headcount for equipment finance companies was up 0.7 percent year over year.

Separately, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation's Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) for February is 63.3, the second highest index in two years and off slightly from last month’s two-year index high of 64.9.

“At the start of the new year, equipment finance activity picked up where it left off for most of 2013," said ELFA President and CEO William G. Sutton, CAE. "New business volume shows modest, incremental growth while credit losses continue at historic lows. With fiscal pressures in Washington subsiding, at least for the time being, and most major U.S. economic indicators showing positive signs, we are hopeful that these factors will help promote a favorable climate for continued investment by U.S. businesses in capital equipment in 2014 and beyond.” 

"The Monthly Confidence Index results for the last two reported periods provide continued optimism for the year ahead. Beginning 2014 with a 63.3 MCI, the second highest mark in the last 24 months, is also extremely promising and serves as evidence of stability and positive velocity within our industry," said Martha Ahlers, VP/COO, United Leasing, Inc. "In the Monthly Leasing and Finance Index, origination volumes year-over-year are also up, while maintaining historically low delinquency and charge-offs; an indication of continued health. The combination of these positive indicators creates a huge amount of excitement for potential growth.”

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