Nov 24 (Reuters) - U.S. companies borrowed 5.7% more to

finance equipment purchases in October than a year earlier,

showing little impact from the recent government shutdown, the

Equipment Leasing and Finance Association said on Monday.

New loans, leases and lines of credit signed up by companies

in October was $10.5 billion on a seasonaly adjusted basis, same

as in the previous month.

At the current pace, 2025 is on track to be the

second-strongest year for equipment demand since ELFA's CapEx

Finance Index (CFI) survey began in 2006, according to the

report.

The Washington-based trade association, which tracks

economic activity in the equipment sector valued at more than $1

trillion, said banks recorded the biggest increase in new

business volumes in October, with an additional $4.8 billion.

"The path for interest rates remains uncertain, but that

doesn't change the fact that our industry is financially

healthy, setting us up for a strong start to 2026," ELFA

President and CEO Leigh Lytle said.

The ELFA CapEx Finance Index of leasing and finance activity

is based on a 25-member survey, including Bank of America ( BAC )

as well as the financing units of Caterpillar ( CAT ),

Dell Technologies ( DELL ), Siemens AG, Canon

and Volvo AB.

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, ELFA's

non-profit affiliate, sees its November confidence index

relatively unchanged at 59.9 from 60.1 in October. A reading

above 50 indicates a positive business outlook.