Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Survey of Economic ... - Business Wire (press release)

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s
1/ (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which
describes equipment finance activity, showed that overall new concern
volume for July increased by 8.9 percentage compared to the same calendar month
in 2006. According to year-to-date accumulative totals, new concern
volume for January to July 2007 was 9.9 percentage higher when comparing
the same time period in 2006.

The MLFI-25 is a monthly index of the equipment finance volume of
twenty-five fiscal services companies (listed below). Because the
same companies take part in the study each month, the MLFI-25
supplies a consistent tendency analysis of current activity.

The MLFI-25 reported new concern volume for July totaled $6.7
billion for new commercial equipment rentals and loans, compared to $9.1
billion in June. New concern volume for July 2006 totaled $6.2 billion. This looks to tendency with 2006 consequences when volume decreased to $6.2
billion in July from $8.1 billion in June.

Portfolio quality reported in July showed an up click in
delinquencies. Receivables under 30 years old declined one percentage
from the year-earlier period, 96.8 percentage vs. 97.8 percent. Charge-offs
remained level compared to the anterior month, but showed an addition when
compared to the year-earlier period. Recognition blessing ratios
declined when compared to both June of this twelvemonth and June of last year.

Sum head count rose over the former month. Head Count was
11,555 in July. In July 2006, head count was higher at 12,893 or a 10.4
percentage lessening twelvemonth over year.

“The MLFI-25 information bespeaks that for
the calendar month of July, recognition for working capital investing was both readily
available and utilized by the commercial sector,”
said Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr., president of the ELFA.

MLFI-25 Methodology

ELFA bring forths the MLFI-25 study to assist member organisations accomplish
competitory advantage by providing them with leading-edge research and
benchmarking information which back ups strategical concern determination
making. The study is also a barometer of the tendencies in U.S. working capital
equipment investment. Five constituents are included in the MLFI-25
survey: new concern volume (originations); aging receivables
(non-performing assets); charge-offs; recognition blessing
(approved vs. booked); and head count for leasing and finance
concern (indicator of stability).

The MLFI-25 supplies metrics reflecting monthly commercial equipment
rental and loan activity as reported by participating ELFA member
equipment finance companies representing a cross subdivision of the
equipment finance sector including little ticket, center market, big
ticket, bank, prisoner and independent leasing and finance companies. Based on difficult study data, the responses mirror the economical activity of
the broader equipment finance sector, which lends to the
mental representation of current concern statuses nationally.

The MLFI-25 complements other relevant economical indices, including the
monthly lasting commodity study produced by the U.S. Department of
Commerce, which reflects new orders for manufactured lasting commodity and
the Institute for Supply Management Index, which describes economical
activity in the manufacturing sector. Along with the MLFI-25, which
reflects degrees of equipment financed, these studies supply the full
economical image for the equipment finance sector: equipment produced,
acquired, and financed.

Results of each MLFI-25 are posted on the ELFA website and in ELT,
the Magazine of Equipment Leasing and Finance. Charts and graphical records are
available for the mass media upon request; delight contact Diane Zyats at ELFA.

/1. The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) is the trade
association representing fiscal services companies and makers
engaged in funding the use and investing of and in working capital
goods. ELFA members are the drive military unit behind the growing in the
commercial equipment finance marketplace and lend to working capital formation
in the U.S. and abroad. Its complete 750 members include independent and
prisoner leasing and finance companies, banks, fiscal services
corporations, broker/packagers and investing banks, as well as service
providers. For more than information, delight visit http://

The ELFA is also the Prime Minister beginning for statistics and analyses covering
the equipment finance sector. To entree ELFA's comprehensive industry
information, delight visit

ELFA MLFI-25 Participants

adenosine diphosphate Recognition Corporation

Depository Financial Institution of America

Depository Financial Institution of the West

Canon Financial Services

Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation

CIT

Citicapital

Delaware Lage Landen Financial Services

First American Equipment Finance

GreatAmerica

Hitachi Recognition America

horsepower Financial Services

Irwin Financial

Toilet John Deere Recognition Corporation

Key Equipment Finance

Sieur de LaSalle National Leasing Corporation

Marlin Leasing Corporation

National City Commercial Corp.

rubidiums Asset Finance

Regions Equipment Finance

Mho Financial Services

United States Bancorp

United States Express Leasing

Verizon Capital Corp

Volvo Financial Services

H. G. Wells Fargo Equipment Finance