The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25) showed that overall new business volume for September was $9.4 billion, up 21% from new business volume in September 2013.

Month over month, new business volume was up 31% from August. Year to date, cumulative new business volume increased 8% compared to 2013. The index reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $827-billion equipment finance sector.

Receivables over 30 days decreased from the previous month to 1.0% and were up slightly from .09% in the same period in 2013. Charge-offs were unchanged for the sixth consecutive month at an all-time low of 0.2%.

Credit approvals totaled 79.7% in September, relatively unchanged from the previous month. Total headcount for equipment finance companies was up 1.1% year over year.

Separately, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Monthly Confidence Index (MCI-EFI) for October is 60.4, slightly better than the September index of 60.2, with survey participants indicating increasing or consistent demand tempered by U.S. economic concerns

“All MLFI-25 performance metrics for September indicate a favorable environment for business investment. Strong originations and solid portfolio performance, together with a slight uptick in hiring, all point to a robust equipment finance sector as we move into the final quarter of the year,” said ELFA President and CEO William G. Sutton. “We will keep our eye on these positive indicators as the U.S. economy continues to react to geopolitical events, a worrisome global economic outlook and volatile U.S. equity markets.”