The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation released the November 2018 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $1 trillion equipment finance sector. Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market eased further in November to 58.5, a decrease from the October index of 63.2.
When asked about the outlook for the future, MCI-EFI survey respondent Valerie Hayes Jester, president, Brandywine Capital Associates, said, “The conclusion of the midterm elections will hopefully bring a renewed focus to completion of transactions for the quarter at hand. The recent stock market gyrations usually have an impact on the confidence of the small business customer. We will see how that translates to business for 2019.”
November 2018 Survey Results:
November 2018 MCI-EFI Survey Comments from Industry Executive Leadership:
Bank, Small-Ticket
“Demand in small ticket and middle market has softened, which is compressing margins from increased, year-end competition. I believe the political climate has created business uncertainty which leads to postponed capex.” Paul Menzel, CLFP, president and CEO, Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc., an Umpqua Bank Company
Bank, Middle-Ticket
“The equipment finance industry is experiencing the broad U.S. market expansion for capital equipment. This is generating growth in activity across most, if not all, equipment and customer segments.” Anthony Cracchiolo, President and CEO, U.S. Equipment Finance
Bank, Middle-Ticket
“I expect the traditional year-end jump in new business volume to continue for 2018 given the continual upswing in capital expenditures.” Thomas Jaschik, President, BB&T Equipment Finance
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