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…
Derived from a quarterly survey that Cox Automotive issues to a representative sample of franchise and independent auto dealers, the Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index measures dealer perceptions of current retail auto sales and sales expectations for the next three…
Wholesale used vehicle prices (on a mix-, mileage-, and seasonally adjusted basis) increased 0.85% month-over-month in May. This brought the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index to 139.6, a 4.0% increase from a year ago.Looking at trends in weekly Manheim Market…
May’s sales performance is a repeat of something we saw throughout the first quarter – fleet up, retail down. A total of 311,308 fleet units were sold, up 29% from April’s 240,898 units sold. Combined rental, commercial and government purchases…
FCA just announced that it is pulling out of merger talks with Renault. Analysts at Cox Automotive, Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader provide some analysis. From Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive “Some argue FCA needs a partner to…
U.S. auto sales in May surprised, coming in stronger than forecast and driven in part by fleet sales, healthy incentives and strong consumer confidence. Market volatility has been the norm so far in 2019, and in May we saw more…
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…
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) was busy over the long Memorial Day weekend, proposing an industry-shifting merger with Renault SA. The deal, which would combine the two companies into a single business, is now being carefully considered by Renault’s board. The…
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…
