A report from the European Investment Bank (EIB), “Breaking down investment barriers at ground level”, has found that investment in the European Union is hampered by the difficulties small and mid-sized companies encounter in obtaining financial services The report also identified structural issues in the way the single market is set up that prevents investment,...Read More
An extension to budget deficit reduction amidst weaker productivity growth and some measures to fix the latter – it feels like Budgets and Autumn Statements have always been thus. Last week was no different and changing the narrative is tricky. Therapy for productivity is key. It just may need to be more of the ‘shock’...Read More
New business volumes for equipment finance in the US rose by 6% year-on-year in October, according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation (ELFA). The Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25) found October new business volumes of $8.2bn, which also indicated a 13% fall from September 2016’s value of $9.4bn. Receivables also followed the pattern...Read More
After 19 months of campaigning at a cost of $2.7 billion the United States has elected its new leader. There’s a tendency to endow political events with too much significance but President-Elect Trump’s approach to some elements of economic policy represent a clear break with the past. What should we expect? Back to the future? Making...Read More
The equipment finance market in the US will grow by 1.31% to $1.03trn (€920bn) in 2016, according to the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. The US Equipment Finance Market Study: 2016-2017, which was conducted by IHS Markit for the ELFF, projected that the market will reach $1.24trn in 2020. According to the foundation, 78% of...Read More
For now, low inflation is gearing up real income gains. However, that looks set to change over the course of the next year. Still fair…. Over the last two years or so, households in the UK have been in the midst of a consumer sweet spot. Low inflation helped by a sustained period of falling food, fuel and...Read More
The UK Economy may be on the cusp if receiving two new little growth spurts. First of all the Chancellor signalled an adjustment in fiscal policy to free up cash for investment. Second, the recent fall in sterling may do what the crisis-driven fall in sterling wouldn’t: help generate a sustained export improvement. Both woudl...Read More
Asset finance grew to £2.2bn (€2.4bn) in August compared representing an 18% year-on-year increase the same month in 2015, according to the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA). In the three months to August 2016, total asset finance increased by 8% to £7.7bn compared to the same period in 2015. The majority of this, £3.7bn, was...Read More
When it comes to growth, the UK economy has shown that it can deliver in recent years. Underneath though there are concerns – a gaping current account, very strong credit growth and house prices (and rents) that seem to rise relentlessly. Some might even say they’re wearingly familiar. Onwards and upwards. There was a decent performance...Read More
UK businesses appear in decent shape. Turnover is up as are Corporation Tax receipts. Yet sterling has lost roughly one-tenth of its value since June and that’s raising input costs and squeezing profits. A long summer of falling costs boosting profits is coming to an end. The squeeze. The value of turnover for UK-based firms rose...Read More
