CINCINNATI -

The roller-coaster that is lease credit approvals watched by Swapalease.com swung significantly again in April, rising to the highest point in six months.

Site officials reported April’s metrics continued more volatility after they saw the approvals rate during the month come in at 78.6 percent. That level represented a 31.0-percent jump from the approvals rate during March, which was 60.0 percent.

Helping to move the reading higher was that the majority of lease approvals during April came from foreign brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.

Swapalease.com mentioned the 78.6 percent approvals mark is the highest monthly acceptance rate dating back to last year when 84.2 percent of lease transfer applicants were approved in November.

The lease approvals volatility has remained entering 2015, as January numbers were above the healthy mark at 75.0 percent but February and March both saw low numbers.

Analysts explained that one reason surfacing for this volatility is the type of vehicle lease being transferred. During April, the vast majority of lease declines came from domestic brands.

Interestingly enough, the site noted the first four months of 2015 have displayed significantly more lease approval volatility compared with the first four months of 2014, which saw the approvals rate stay within the 67 percent to 70 percent range in each of the first four months.

Swapalease said  this year’s volatility comes amid continued growth in sales and the lease market, with end-of-month light-vehicle sales showing year-over-year growth of 4.6 percent.

“We expect to see continued turbulence in lease approvals, especially as the volume for lease applicants grows to include sub-prime shoppers turned away at the dealership,” Swapalease.com executive vice president Scot Hall said. “We’re keeping a watchful eye on domestic versus foreign lease applicants, as this is a new trend emerging in our marketplace.”