Taking Advantage of Lower Rates Carl Villella The Fed lowered its benchmark interest rate by half a percent in September, and our funding banks have also lowered their rates in response. This is great news for the economy as a whole, as interest rates are now lower for all forms of credit, including mortgages. From a macroeconomic... Read More November 2024 Issue #16304 Page 77
Fixed Rate Drops Below Prime…Just in Time for BCMC! Carl Villella On September 18th, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by half a percent, the first cut in four years. It was a welcome development, and one that should have a positive outcome for the economy. Lower interest rates stimulate economic growth, and make lending of all types less... Read More October 2024 Issue #16303 Page 67
Equipment Finance Companies to the Rescue Carl Villella Many companies took advantage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021 by bidding on projects to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and broadband networks. But the economic climate of 2021 when the bids were placed was much different than the... Read More September 2024 Issue #16302 Page 65
Playing the Interest Rate Game Carl Villella At the time this article was being written, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the inflation rate for June fell to 3%. Given the stubborn nature of inflation over the past year, the 3% figure was a welcome surprise. Economists and the business community in general already began... Read More August 2024 Issue #16301 Page 53
Obtaining Financing is Crucial to Maintaining Growth Carl Villella Credit has been tightening in our industry over the past year, making it challenging to obtain financing for new or used equipment. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March of 2023, followed by the failure of First Republic Bank in May, caused a seismic shift in our... Read More July 2024 Issue #16300 Page 55
The Interest Rate Watch Carl Villella If you are considering financing equipment at this juncture, you may be concerned about where interest rates are headed. You may be wondering if perhaps it might be better to wait until rates drop before you take that step to finance. Darrell R. Spence, an economist with 31 years of... Read More June 2024 Issue #16299 Page 53
Consider Promotions for Added Savings Carl Villella As you look to finance new or used equipment for your business, look beyond just the interest rate to find opportunity. Traditional banks may have their “Loan Sales,” but brokers can provide promotions offered by their numerous funding sources that far outshine what a bank can... Read More May 2024 Issue #16298 Page 55
Interest Rate Outlook and Planning Your Financing Carl Villella Taking a look at what some of the analysts are saying, it appears that the consensus is that the period of near-zero interest rates is not likely to return anytime soon. Going back to 1870, or roughly 60% of the time, the U.S. Treasury yields have been in the 3.5% to 5.5% range. Fed Chair... Read More April 2024 Issue #16297 Page 59
A Closer Look into 2024 Carl Villella Over the last few months, we have seen rates drop for those seeking to finance new or used equipment. Economists are pointing to even lower rates as the year goes on, but of course that will depend on whether the economy continues its downward inflation trend or not, on its way to the 2%... Read More March 2024 Issue #16296 Page 59
What’s the Difference Between a Lease and a Loan? Carl Villella The question of what’s the difference between a lease and a loan comes up often, and there are some clear differences that can affect how a client decides to finance their commercial equipment. When a client decides to lease equipment, they make regular lease payments for the right to... Read More February 2024 Issue #16295 Page 59