US Equipment Borrowings Jump 12.5% YoY

US firms' equipment financing rose 12.5% YoY in March to $10.8 billion, per ELFA survey.
New loans, leases, and credit lines slipped 1.8% from February, while small-ticket volume fell 17.7% to $3.4 billion.
ELFA confidence index dropped to 54.6 in April from 61 in March, its lowest since May 2025.
ELFA President Leigh Lytle warned the Middle East conflict could weaken demand heading into summer.