While unemployment remains historically low, job growth is suddenly slowing, reflecting the negative trends in many sectors being impacted by trade and growing uncertainty. This quarter is seeing weaker consumer spending and business investment, which will no doubt lead to…
CBT News, June 3, 2019 — While it’s important to monitor year-over-year trends in the retail auto industry, it is arguably more important to focus on where the industry is headed. Charlie Chesbrough, Senior Economist and Senior Director of Industry Insights…
Roller-coaster consumer sentiment rebounded in May as did consumer spending, while the uncertainty around trade intensified. Economy slows: Economic growth in Q1 was revised down slightly, but most importantly growth is poised to be much weaker in Q2 as much of…
U.S. automakers have invested heavily in China, and, for years, in varying degrees by company, they enjoyed great growth. They taught their Chinese partners much about auto manufacturing and retailing. Now they are losing sales to Chinese automakers. Profits are…
New home construction and new home sale have been a plus, but manufacturing is in decline against the backdrop of possibly prolonged trade drama with China. Housing positive:New home construction and new home sales are the primary positive trends so…
Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at Cox Automotive, provides an update on the Key Trends that, earlier in the year, were predicted to have the greatest impact on the automotive industry in 2019. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS The Economy – Economic growth has been revised…
New auto tariffs on Europe and Japan were postponed while tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico were lifted, eliminating some uncertainty but not all. Retail sales remain weak, pointing to a softer economy, but housing and interest…
The White House today in a statement confirmed that it will delay by up to six months any decision on Section 232 tariffs on autos and auto parts. This is exactly the route we expected, as the Trump Administration uses the threat…
The May 2019 Cox Automotive Industry Update Report shares Cox Automotive’s multifaceted insight into the automotive marketplace to provide an overview of economic indicators, supply, demand, credit and other vital topics and trends affecting the industry. ECONOMIC INDICATORS Job creation…
First-quarter economic growth blew away estimates and reversed a downward trend of the past couple of quarters, but beneath the headlines, consumer spending and business investment growth are weakening. Growth improves: First-quarter real GDP growth was much better than expected…
