Enterprises which desire the use of capital goods without immobilising their own funds can resort to hirepurchase. Unlike a straight lease, this scheme gives the lessee the right to acquire all or part of the goods leased, at an agreed price which gives credit for the sums paid by way of rental. Hire-purchase enterprises are registered as financial establishments. They numbered 22 in 1965, 24 in 1967 and 35 in 1968. Their turnover has trebled between 1965 and 1968, and the growth rate seems to be getting faster (an average of rather more than 40 %, and 61 % between 1967 and 1968). This speeding up arises mainly from the development of the hire-purchase of chattels. The turnover of the « old established » companies — already trading in 1965...