The Auto Market Brief – Ep. #7
In this Episode
Consumer spending remains unexpectedly strong as the auto market moves through the heart of the spring selling season.
In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Erin Keating is joined by Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jeremy Robb to break down the latest retail spending data, new‑ and used‑vehicle sales performance, and what’s shaping demand across the market.
Key Takeaways
Consumer spending and retail sales trends: Jeremy explains why overall retail spending remains elevated, including a record month‑over‑month increase in gasoline station sales and the continued impact of tax refunds supporting consumer activity.
New, used, and EV market performance: The discussion examines year‑to‑date new‑vehicle sales in the context of last year’s tariff‑driven pull‑ahead, cooling but stable used‑vehicle sales, tightening used inventory, and rising prices for top‑selling used vehicles. The episode also highlights improving demand and price retention for used EVs at both retail and wholesale levels.
Market signals and industry developments:
This episode also touches on Federal Reserve leadership updates, wholesale price movement, and retention trends, alongside key industry headlines from major automakers, marketplace expansion, and dealership consolidation activity.
00:00 Intro
02:09 Macro overview and Strong Consumer Spending
05:33 New Wholesale and New/Used Sales Data
08:02 The Latest on EV Sales and Supply
10:38 Fullpath: Cox Automotive’s Acquisition Agreement
12:21 What’s Next with the Fed?
13:37 OEM Updates and Recent Moves
18:39 Dealer Acquisitions and Big Tech Competition
21:01 Outro
