Equipment finance confidence holds steady in October

Confidence in the equipment finance industry remained strong for the fifth consecutive month as portfolio performance remained resilient.

Confidence in the equipment finance industry held nearly steady at 60.1, up slightly from 59.9 in September, according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation’s October 2025 Monthly Confidence Index released today. The survey found that 37.5% of executives expect business conditions to improve over the next four months, while 54.2% expect them to remain the same.

Demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures is expected to stay stable, and 25% of respondents foresee greater access to capital, according to the release. Employment expectations softened slightly, with 25% of executives planning to hire more employees, down from 36.4% in September.

Steady portfolio performance, resilient demand, and pent-up spending are driving optimism, despite lingering headwinds such as tariffs and interest rates. Several leaders noted strong year-to-date growth in new business volume, ongoing portfolio stability and potential tailwinds from tax and rate policy shifts.

The foundation said the index reflects continued confidence in the $1.3 trillion equipment finance sector, supported by healthy demand from utilities, construction and manufacturing, according to the release. As bonus depreciation and interest rate cuts begin to impact the market, there are expectations for a solid finish to 2025.

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