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CHICAGO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Lending to small U.S. businessesrose in August for a second straight month, a report showed onMonday, a sign the economy may have been regaining its footingeven

before the U.S. central bank's latest round of stimulus. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index,which measures the overall volume of financing to small U.S.companies,

rose to 109.9 from July's upwardly revised 106.7,PayNet said. It was the highest level this year. PayNet had initially reported the July figure as 103.8. Borrowing was up 10 percent

from a year earlier. "We've got a winning streak going," PayNet founder BillPhelan said. "These business owners are looking out three, to six, tonine months, and they are

seeing some positive profit-producingopportunities: there must be something these business owners areseeing." The Federal Reserve last month unleashed a new round ofbond-buying to

lower borrowing costs and spur businesses tospend and, eventually, to hire. PayNet's lending index typically correlates to economicgrowth a quarter or two in the future. Separate PayNet

data showed companies were under lessfinancial stress. Accounts overdue by 30 days fell to a newrecord low - 1.16 percent of the total - from 1.18 percent theprevious month. Longer-term

delinquency rates also eased. Accounts behind 90days or more, or in severe delinquency, dipped to 0.25 percentfrom 0.27 percent. Accounts behind 180 days or more, which are considered

indefault and unlikely to be paid, fell to 0.32 percent from 0.34percent. PayNet collects real-time loan information, such asoriginations and delinquencies, from more than 250 leading

U.S.lenders. (Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by Dale Hudson) (([email protected])(+1 312-408-8592 ReutersMessaging: [email protected])) Keywords: USA

ECONOMY/PAYNET