BUSINESS BORROWING

U. S. firms borrowed over 14% more money in February than they did a year ago to buy new equipment. The jump comes from a sharp rise in borrowing through independent lenders and financiers. A trade group that watches the $1 trillion equipment‑finance market released the data after surveying 25

In December, U. S. companies increased their borrowing for equipment by 5. 9% compared to the previous year, hitting near-record levels. This surge in financing, which included loans, leases, and lines of credit, totaled $10. 6 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking a rise from the previous