The ELFA’s Monthly Leasing and Finance Index reports activity from 25 companies and showed a month-over-month decrease in new volume of 20 percent from January. Year to date, cumulative new business volume was up five percent compared to 2012.
“It is too early to tell whether February’s decline in new business volume signals a longer-term trend spurred by economic uncertainty, sequestration and unresolved fiscal matters, or is a one-time development that needs to be closely monitored,” said ELFA President and CEO William G. Sutton in a prepared statement.
“Recent internal and external economic indicators and analyses point to a moderately sluggish beginning to the year, to be followed by a pick-up in overall economic activity in the second half of the year. February’s somewhat disappointing data could very well provide concrete evidence of this forecast.”
The index reports that receivables over 30 days rose to 2 percent in February, an increase from 1.8 percent in January. In the same period last year, receivables were at 2.5 percent. Charge-offs saw a very small increase to 0.4 percent from their all-time low of 0.3 percent in January.
