Asset finance up 9% in February

8 April 2016

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 9% in February, compared with the same month last year.

Commercial vehicle finance increased in February by 17% compared with the same month in 2015. Business equipment finance and plant and machinery finance each grew by 12% over the same period.

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

“The asset finance market saw stronger new business growth in February following a relatively quiet start to 2016. The improvement was broad-based with most of the main asset sectors reporting higher levels of new business. These figures suggest that business confidence remains relatively robust despite uncertainty about the global economic outlook and the EU membership referendum.”

 

Feb 2016

% change on prev. year

3 months to Feb 2016

% change on prev. year

12 months to Feb 2016

% change on prev. year

Total FLA asset finance (£m)

2,037

+9

7,076

+11

29,344

+11

Total excluding high value (£m)

1,996

+13

6,781

+12

28,377

+11

             

Data Extracts:

By asset:

           

Plant and machinery finance (£m)

462

+12

1,452

+6

5,836

+7

Commercial vehicle finance (£m)

508

+17

1,731

+23

6,985

+15

IT equipment finance (£m)

122

-30

571

+2

2,194

+26

Business equipment finance (£m)

172

+12

521

0

2,070

-7

Car finance (£m)

568

+24

1,871

+10

9,067

+12

Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)

9

-83

144

+22

532

+68

By channel:

           

Direct finance (£m)

1,011

+15

3,546

+16

14,356

+14

Broker-introduced finance (£m)

388

+8

1,234

+6

5,021

+7

Sales finance (£m)

598

+13

2,001

+8

8,999

+9

By product:

           

Finance leasing (£m)

234

-11

1,088

+19

3,699

+3

Operating leasing (£m)

435

+8

1,515

+12

6,718

+11

Lease/Hire purchase (£m)

1,117

+14

3,414

+9

15,233

+13

Other finance (£m)

251

+9

1,060

+9

3,693

+11

Note to editors:

  1. In 2015, FLA members provided £110 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £29 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector.  FLA members financed almost 32% of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2015.

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