According to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s monthly leasing and finance index (MLFI), overall new business volume for February was $7.7 billion, up 31% year-over-year compared to February 2017. Volume was up 13% month-to-month from $6.9 billion in January. Year to date, cumulative new business volume was up 20% compared to 2017.

Receivables over 30 days were 1.6%, down from 1.9% the previous month and up from 1.5% percent the same period in 2017. Charge-offs were 0.28%, down from 0.34% the previous month, and down from 0.38% in the year-earlier period.

Credit approvals totaled 74.2% in February, down from 76.9% in January. Total headcount for equipment finance companies was up 1.4% year-over-year. During 2017, headcount was elevated due to acquisition activity at an MLFI reporting company.

Separately, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) in March is 72.2, easing from 73.2 in February.

ELFA President and CEO Ralph Petta said, “February originations offer further proof that 2018 is shaping up to be a very strong year for the equipment finance industry. Momentum spurred on by recently enacted tax changes together with an economy beginning to hit on most, if not all, cylinders, is creating a compelling demand cycle for capital equipment acquisition by American businesses, large and small. In addition, portfolios continue to perform at high levels, helping to contribute to the sense of optimism carried over from the second half of 2017.”

David Walton, president and CEO, Caterpillar Financial Services, said, “Business activity across many of the key industries we serve continues to be favorable. This can be attributed to the current positive overall industry fundamentals and economic conditions in the U.S. Although the outlook is for a continued increase in U.S. interest rates, our customers are still benefiting from historically low interest rates and evaluating the benefits of recent U.S. tax reform. As our customers continue to work towards successfully growing their businesses, we remain optimistic about the year ahead and focused on maintaining a healthy portfolio.”