New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) fell by 60% in May 2020 compared with the same month in 2019.  In the five months to May 2020, new business fell by 30% compared with the same period in 2019.

New business in the commercial vehicle finance and business new car finance sectors contracted by 62% and 87% respectively, compared with May 2019.  Over the same period, the business equipment finance and plant and machinery finance sectors reported falls in new business of 40% and 44% respectively.  By contrast, the IT equipment finance sector reported a modest fall in new business of 4% in May.

Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:

“The asset finance market reported its lowest level of new business for more than 13 years in May, with the vehicle finance sectors continuing to be hardest hit by the lockdown restrictions. The IT equipment finance sector was the only sector to report growth in the first five months of 2020. 

“Our latest figures show that the industry provided finance for almost 40% of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the year to March 2020. If this support for business investment is to continue as well as meeting the huge demand for forbearance, the Government needs to take action to support all lenders, including non-bank lenders, by allowing them to access to funding as suggested in the FLA’s Term Funding Pipeline proposal.”

 Note to editors:

1. In 2019, FLA members provided £140 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households.  £36 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2019.
2. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.